New-York tribune., 1902-03-30
FYTCHIEAND AGENTS. SATODDS
AN EASTER HOLIDAY .ON ELLIS ISL
AND KEEPS 962 IMMIGRANTS
FROM LANDING TO-DAY.

Unless the Treasury Department heeds the
protests Of Vernon II. Brown, Of the Cunard
Line. and Vice President Wright OF the Ameri-
Line the 052 steeraEe passengers on the
steamers Umhria and St Paul. Of those lines,
which will dock here this morning. will be un-
able 20 land until tomorrow morning Being
too busy TO attend 70 It on Friday. Commission
or Fitchie OF the Bureau OF immigration yes
terday morning sent telegraph dispatch to the
Treasury Department asking II he should land
the passengers Of those two vessels on Sunday
or give the employees an Easter holiday as had
been done for the last two years and land them
on Monday morning The department. accord
ing to Mr. Fitchie replied that the bureau might
be closed Mr.. Fitchie then Informed the off-
cals Of the two lines. Mr. Brown said last
night
ing o rom 2 % !2Pd m mGFG p
oIIder OF C3mmisSioner tnchle. giving the en-
more more Immigrants. It is, an outrage that just be
want holiday thSSe mmrrsni Should b 'ReTf Ren
Cooped up on steamships for f7rty-eight hours. II
Is Is no, only hardship on the immigrants, but it is
!hhers Is a heavy penalty provided in case any OF
IL Is yin RET SGSGaPS rom ahe ship while
policemen. When the ship is tied up 70 the dock
tba - %IT95I Hnp@SGDle I9f us TO prevent some OF
gets head money enough and has employees enough
coming here our ship and the St Paul Of the the
american Line Both ships will unquestionably
be disposed OF before noon -
o M Me nS dqm to to G asre fast in the m Ellis Island
We received notice this morning OF their intention
Monday should have brought a pressure to bear
the authorities in Washington, which can as
sure You would nave upset the immigration au-
1Ihoriues plans As 1t is. teIegraphed to the
Fitche informed me. tod the authorizes there
board over sunday would be not only n harishiin
but an imIcsti9n do not know whether my dis
II was 23o o'clock before Mr.. Fitche Informed our
Office; and you know that Saturday afternoon Is a
that ! shall hear before morning ordering the peo-
1t Is an outrage and an imposition
Mr. Wright apparently felt somewhat as Mr.
Brown did as he characterized the action of
the immigration officials as an unwarranted out
rage.
Commissioner Fitchie said last evening, when
told that the agents of the American and Cunard
Steamship companies had protested Wash
ington against the closing Of the immigration
station on Easter. that the order giving the en-
ployes a holiday had been issued with the
authority of T. V. Powderly. Commissioner Gen
eral of immigration. He added:
The island has been closed on Easter I'm the mast
ana this morning ! telegrSphed the Treasury De
steamships due 10 land immigrants on that day
Tel telegranhco mat the l mbria of the Cunard Line
were coming on the St Paul. / did not receive an
once called up the dterent stesmshp lines ana ana
informed them that the department would he
closed. was unable TO communicate with Mr.
Brown OF the Cunard Line, and I n man
up TO the pier 10 inform him that the authority
had been received for closing the station
Later Mr.. Brown called me up and asked me
about the matter. He appeared TO be very nnuch
worked up He said that he would telegraph 10
Washington and have the order IL possible re-
O'Clock, but received further orders from Tho
department, The steerage passengers on those two
shlpS nave been on board for six or seven davs
ana the vessels have not been reported in time
10 come mp TO their piers might. Sunday is al
ways a halliday the iSslnd, and am OF the
II would not be in time to allow the steeraee mas
Sengers 10 land If
Whatever has been done has been done with the
authority OF Washington. II is now too late 10
receive an order 10 open 'he island Tomorrow An
OF the employees, 10 the number Of over one hun
dred have been told not 70 report The only force
on Ellis Island tomorrow will be that necessary ~
protect property and look after things There ie
no CONTROVERSY In this matter The closing was
decided by those in authority in Washington Mr.
changed he going raise Old Ned i'm The
newspapers. and he Is trying do so " "
Let me read the telegram which was sent 70 NJ
Powderly at 10 o'clock Following tho nrecedan;
OF last year. ask that the station be closed on
Easter. Two ships are due possibilities Sjx
the Umbra." The following reply was receivsd ~
this about o'clock: Authority granted 10 ciose ~
Sunday urder the usual conditions This vas
signed by Mr.. Powderly, and the condition 70 which
he refers Is that force be kept on hand TO iooE
after things " N
Secretary Shaw left this city for washtnston
last evening before the controversy was brought
to his attention. SO far as could be learned