New-York tribune., 1903-01-21
WOMEN rs INSPECTORS.
THE Plan to Appoint Them m tie
immigration Service Here.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !


Washington. JAN 2O.-Presfdent Roosevelt will be
asked to suspend the Civil Service regulations in
order that five young women may be appointed as
Immigrant inspectors for duty at the port of New
York. This request will be made by Mrs. Margaret
Dye Ellis. superintendent of legislation for the
National Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
and is deemed absolutely necessary for the
cessful carrying out OF the plan for moral
monitors for incoming immigrant girls. The plan
of having women immigrant inspectors. whose
duty 1t shall be TO meet liners down the
bay. converse with the young passengers
of the first and second ca bin. and ascertain their
purpose in coming to this country. in order that
sthey may be warned against procurers for houses
OF Ill repute. outlined days ago in The
Tribune. Commissioner General Sargent laid the
proposition before Secretary Shaw al the instance
of Mrs Ellis. President Roosevelt also made
acquainted with the plan and is understood to
have heartily approved it.
When the question of the appointment of the
women inspectors taken UP there seemed no
other way than to call the Civil Service Com
mission for list of eligibes. To this there seems
to be serious objection the part of those back
of the idea. Mrs. Ellis. who returned to Washing
ton from New-York to-day. believes that an ex-
cepton to the rule should be made in appointments
OF THIS character. The moral qualifications of the
women inspectors are, in her opinion neces-
sary than those which would be demonstrated by
a civil Service examination The female inspectors
will be required to perform physical feats of un-
usual character Another requirement will be that
Of familiarity with several foreign languages; but
besides this, they to be, above ALL capable of
winning the confidence OF the young women immi-
grants
At the suggestion of Commissioner General Sar-
gent. Mrs. Ellis went to New-YurK last week for
the purpose of selecting suitable places where the
young women persuaded to change their plans
landing might so. Mrs Ellis not only succeeded
IN this. but she also selected five young
now engaged in settlement work in New-York
spectors desired. These young college
pred girls speak several languages, engaged
phllanthropiC work and have had exactly train
Ing which would be most desirable in the class of
appo!ntees wanted The appeal to the President
Will De on behalf of these women, and the argu-
ment will be made that the only examination
CURED should be that of practical experience.
Mrs Ellis also looked into the matter of suitable
costumes for the new inspectors, who Will be re-
qured to board ships from the inspectors tug in
cumStances- "BloomerS' with skirt coming
down to the tops of shoes. weighted down around
the bottom riding skirt. a close fitting jacket
and an immigrant inspectors cap, are the sug-
gestions the result of this investigation
Commissioner General Sargent has received two
IS not unlikely that, the whole proposition IS
experimental. ruling may be given that the
women inspectors be employed temporarily
without civil service examinations Mrs. Ellis says
officials of New-York to the idea of having their
ranks augmented by five young women Another
phase OF the matter has also presented itself. 1t
is asserted that young women brought to this
country for immoral purposes will be introduced
at other ports tnan NewYork the new
inspection service goes into operation. In this
event a movement will be started to extend the
service to other ports