New-York tribune., 1902-08-21
NSTLTS TO TRAVELLERS
QUESTIONS ASKED ABSURD
AND IHPERTINENT.
CONGRESS- MAY BE ASKED TO CHANGE A
raw WHICH HAS SMALL GROUND
FOB ENACTMENT
rRr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE J

zx-eebirgton Aug 20.-Recen1 complaint of
-, continued abuse OF power by the agents Of
-. immigration Bureau at the Port Of New
Z-o-l was to-day called TO the attention of
--,t d Sargent, the new Commissioner Cen
Il of Irarnigra ton, who referred the inquiries
. the law under which his bureau exercises
=, ,,rrsIlal privilege Of eyacting from all aliens
-;,to111 discrimination answers TO questions
ba- in many instances not only are absurd,
t,,5 irrpertinent and insulting
Bv authority Of the act of March 3, 1888, the
---.,;grarfon Bureau is directed to compel the
-,s-fr cor4paries TO keep q careful descrip
-. 7isr Of all immigrants that come 10 this
o,,rrrz- on their vessels This law, however
,,,-oyrers the bureau 10 inquire into the char
.cter antecedents, destiny, etc, Of alien i'm
tgrsnts" only, and says nothing about tourists
and other travellers from foreign countries
Tba 4,u rext OF Section Of the act referred TO
is as follows
Thai IN addition 10 conforming TO all present
-soui-en7ents OF law. upon the arrival or any
- i-7rlisrants by water at any port within the
1--5+e5 states il shall be the duty Of the master
Nv commanding officers OF the steamer or SAIL
ine vessel having said immigrants on board TO
deliver 10 the proper inspector OF immigration
- -ba mort lists or manifestS made at the time
an5 pIace Of ennbarkaUon OF such alien I'M
o-iersnTs cn board such steamer or vessel,
--bioh shall. in answer to questions at the top
" ra;5 1fSrs state as TO each immigrant the full
ner1e age and sex, whether married or single;
+Le calling or occupation. whether able 10 READ
o- write: the nationality; the last resldence;
the seaport for landing in the United states;
-he final destination. II any. beyond me SeapoFt
of landing. whether having q ticket through 10
sIch final destination; whether the lnn!srman1 am
has na!6 his own passage, or WheIheT II mas
haan paid by other persons or by any corpora
+ion society. municipality or government
whether in possession of money, ana. II SO;
betber inward Of $50. and how much, if $50
- Iass- whether going TO join relative ana,
u % so D7at relative and his name and address;
l,1E, IN he
= So when and where: whether ever in prison
~ afnoshouse or supported by charity; Whether
= ,oIy g7r7isr: whether under contract, express
g ;r1TIfa5 70 perform labor in the United
Stares and what is the immigrants condlllon
M health mentally and physically, ana WheLheT
deforrned or crippled, and, II So from "H@'
cause
The foregoing section shows tha1 ooFl0usiS
.,a Intention Of the law was for the steamship
oorapanies TO make the necessary inquiries De-
fora accepting the passengers, and that such n
ouiries were te be made only Of immigrants ano
To1 Of tourists and other cabin passengers But
the nractice has degenerated into a cruel and
useless persecution Of all foreigners OF Whal-
eyer class that come 10 the United STATES
rt,,io,,s1v TOO. il was not intended that the in
srecrors of the immigration Bureau should take
anv parr in the inQuisItion prescribed. and II
1bev are doing that now they are plainly Vlo-
7a-inp rl7e law bv. exceeding their authority
7 is held by expert opinion in Washington
outside the Immigration Bureau that unless this
inouisition is made entirely by the transporta-
-ion corapanies the immigration ofhciaIs OF the
Treasurv Department are grossly neglecting
their duties by not enforcing this regulation
against the steamship companies by imposing
the fines allowed whenever immigrant Is
landed on these shores without having IN his
possession the necessary manifest which the law
requires the steamship people 10 make. AS ii Is
scarcely. conceivable that any Immigrant would
ever travel first class in the cabin. it cannot be
understood what possible excuse the iulnltgra-
lion agents ever find for badgering the bet
ter class OF incoming passengers Win the IN
sulting questions prescribed by the law
M Sargent does not take this view OF II
On the contrary. he says that he finds it quite
advisable TO have the cabin passengers from
Europe. irrespective OF their appearance, thelr
destination or purpose, subjected in many ways
10 the most rigid examination by his inspectors
even after they have been questioned sufh-
GENTLY by the steamship officers who bring
them over.
we have found" said Mr.. Sargent to-day,
that most of the anarchists and criminals who
come 70 this country from Europe travel IN the
cabin among our first class passengers, and II
We did not get after them through our own
agents there would be no way 10 stop their
coming over here by the wholesale"
Al the same time Mr.. Sargent did not explain
why tourists and travellers from Europe who
plainly are not criminals anarchists should
be subjected 10 the humiliation Of the inqulsi-
ton prescribed for immigrants Presumably
any distinguished foreigner. regardless OF rank,
title or mission who lands at New-York is put
through the same sweating process" to which
steamship companies are required by the law
10 subject immigrants. It is believed Congress
will 5e called on at its next session TO modify
this absurd law.