The Washington times., 1902-08-26
The TRBAHMEN OF
INTENDED CITIZENS
Official Welcome Extended
Immigrants by Uncle sam.
Order Issued by the Bureau Governing
the Arrival of Passengers at
Ellis Island

The following announcement regarding
the treatment of immigrants at the
ports of the United States was given
out yesterday at the immigration Bu-
reau:
In order TO remove the misapprehen-
sion which exists in regard to the law
relating TO the manifestation of first
cabin aliens, Commissioner of Immigra-
tion Williams, at Ellis Island, y. Y.
has issued the following circular letter
to the steamship companies:
U. 5. immigration Service,
Ellis Island. y. Y, Aug %.
- To the Owners OF Steamships Bring
ing Cabin Passengers to the Port OF
New York:
- In view of the approach OF the sea-
son during which you will be bringing
TO this country cabin passengers in
large numbers, the following is issued
in the hope that it may facilitate and
improve the execution of the laws an.
plicable to incoming aliens and lead to
a better general understanding OF the
same:
/. The laws generally known as
immigration laws relate. in fact, to
all aliens coming to the United States.
Such aliens may consist of tourists, per-
sons coming temporarily for business or
pleasure. persons in transit to other
countries, steerage immigrants and
others.
.. These laws have no application
whatever to a United States citizen.
3. These laws require that you shall
furnish the Government certain informa-
ticn therein specified concerning all
aliens entering the United States b!
your vessels, but they do not prescribe
the method by which such information
shall be obtained. 1t may be obtained
by inquiry, direct or indirect, by hear
say, by observation, or by any other
method that seems most appropriate.
The questions" are TO be answered by
the steamship companies. and The Law
does not require that any particular
question be put to any passenger. While
you will naturally seek TO procure some
of - information by direct questions,
yet is to a portion of the same this
method may prove unnecessary, and, in
deed, in some cases, the least satisfac-
tory means of enabling you to correctly
write down the facts. which are what
the Government requires. If an alien
is suffering from a dangerous contagious
disease, or If he is a noted criminal. he
will generally avoid admitting that such
is the case. You are none the less liable |
TO penalty for bringing him here be-
cause he may have stated to you that he |
was in good physical condition or that
he was an honest man The law places !
upon you the burden of correctly Gscer- |
tanning and reporting the facts in each |
case, Irrespective of what may be told |
you by the alien; but where ii appears |
that you have made every proper effort |
to do this as to cabin aliens, this Office |
will not be disposed to enforce the PEN |
atty provided by law for an erroneous |
statement on the ships manifest.
- Alien tourists must be mani |
tested in the same manner as are other |
aliens. Since the Government viii no, |
separately record those who come here |
in the cabin for residential purposs anu /
those coming as tourists it requires |
that. as to all aliens of the latter class
the word tourist" be inserted in col
umn II, for they have no final destina-
ton"
'5. During the first six months of
1902, Additional Head Money" in
the amount OF about S2.3ll was collect
ed at this port by inspectors boarding
incoming vessels at the quarantine sta
tion from passengers tcabn and steer
agel manifested as united states Citl'
zens. but who. upon inquiry, were found
to be aliens. You should urge upon
your representatives in foreign ports the
necessity Of making renewed efforts to /
secure correct information as to the ma
of each of your passengers.
WM. WILLIAMS.
u. S. Commissioner of immigration
1T will be seen that there is no law
requiring that any particular questions
be put TO any passenger, and the immi-
grafton inspectors at New York. al
though the contrary is commonly be-
lieved to be the case are not directed
by law to 'catechse' cabin passengers. Il
nor have they done so in practice. Ger
tain information must be furnished by |,
the companies as to each alien. but this
they may procure in any
way they please, and must swear 20 the
same before United States consul on
the other side. If any annoying ques-
tons have ever been put to cabin pas
sengers, this must have been done by L
pursers acting under a misapprehension
as to the law" Il