New-York tribune., 1903-03-30
HER VIEWS OF INSPECTORS.
Hrs Ellis Tells of Their Work and the Need
for It.

for It.
N-s Ma-xaret Dye Ellis. superintendent of legis-
Istion for the woman's Christian Temperance
Union who has Just returned to her home IN
Orange after FIVE months stay in Washington,
D. c. looking after legislative matters connected
with reform work saw Tribune reporter yesteF-
day, and explained the situation n regard to the
women immigration inspectors
II shall begin at the beginning. said MIS- Ellis
Last November raid was made In Philadelphia
and I2o girls were taken before magistrate The
facts were brought out that these girls were-nost
~ thern-foreign born. many Of them having been
here less than year, and had been brought on
from New-York TO Philadelphia There was no law
by which the magistrate could hold them I went
10 Ellis Island 10 study conditions there and found
that Il not the girls who lad come over In
the steerage that drffted into this way OF life;
tkev are well cared for by officials and the mis-
stonar1es. Il from among the nrst and second
cabin passengers that the class Of girls such as
were caught in the Philadelphia raid were recruit
ed- O1tentines their passage is paid on the other
side Of the and they aye met here by agents
and representatives of the syndicate. which either
sends them to other points or keeps them here
in Eew-YorK
On my return to Washington 1 called on the
Commissioner General Of immigration to see II
women inspectors could not be appointed to meet
the steamers He approved OF the plan, but thought
II would be necessary for women to 60 down the
Bay in the cutter with the health ofdcers and
them opportunity to see what girls or women
board needed advice or help. Our object was
not 20 have the inspectors detectives to seek
oct the bad. but to protect shield, guard and
guide the good-in fact. to be mere a preventive
measure than anything else A few days later
] went TO call on President Roosevelt who listened
70 the project with great interest saying 1t met
With his hearty approval He Immediately dictated
whose jurisdiction this department came, urging
"a s
I've inspectors were appointed
WHY RIDICULE THEM?
Xrs Ellis here spoke with considerable feeling
q the Ievfty with which this measure had been
treated In general. and thought It a pity to
cast odiurn and ridcuIe a movement originating
in & desire to help the detenceless. But she
remarked. every new departure connected with
the T them e1 ss to 10 Be PHn st @st h5heFf II e
Why it should be SO l can't explain
IsISe eH ctes they we're Welcomed in just this way
Now they are universally appointed and no one
These Eve women inspectors were appointed
have performed their duties has overcome much Of
The prejudice Of the male inspectors physicians
resslike and womanly way of conducting their
rnountabie It has been said of them that they
evince want Of tact in questioning IN many re-
spects they handicapped. but most OF these
shortcomings are the result OF want OF experience
Two weeks ago it was reported that the women
were 20 be suspended at the end OF the ninety
sfion Tbo sajd there Vas no fsnt to BE- found
With the women. They had performed their duties
superhuous-that men could DO the work equally
6Sef 80 n0t o woman naPgfe can for
women to deal with women IN such matter as
se e TeeR after Hf5 heqrnF tas report called
upon President Roosevelt. who; upon being I in
he removed. Issued order that they should not
tour The President has the interests Of women at
heart and in every way stands ready to better
surrounding conditions for them
WHERE THEY DID GOOD WORK
Numerous cases have occurred. even in the short
time the women inspectors have been at work
where girls have been saved from falling into the
hands Of designing people. will tell you Of two
only though. One Is the OF young English
girl nineteen years old, who had been prevailed
upon by 4 man Of forty-ive, who claimed to be
her brother but who was no relation to her. TO
he vas Continually drunk. and the girl begged the
woman inspector. whose attention was called to
This man. The woman in@sPector @ took her to the
for eSe gri with q lawyer who on learning the
nature Of the case. at once threw IL Up. The girls
the girl is row n safe hands The other case 3as
Iha5 q sss ssv5F E the s maSe g. and be
inspector accompany her 70 her Dissipation This
not s5esi word Of English saw this She eOTe re-
fused 70 GO in saying fhey ~ T;Te re only se9uaint g
say at ss!oon ~ The A ;n;Desto. pee then vert 70 two
found that the families had Fcroved and no one
knew where they had gone. BY this time It was
midnight and the inspector took the girl to her
own home TO spend the night, and the next day
placed her In safe keeping. Imagine that girls
fate had the inspector not accompanied her-aione
not known word Of English. and right in
strange cit
TT has neea suggested by some that the Trav-
eiierS Aid is sufficient for such ernergencies. But
the Travellers Aid officers. na wing ofncial au
thority from the governnnent-no badge TO show
the women inspectors haVe-cAnnot hold people
Be~tNeE. they always the GZAot
We q Christian people" continued Mrs
Ellie. "and Christian nation we send women
With the authority Of the government to meet
these hoEneGick and heInlese strangers. have Wis
tied the embassies Of England. France. GERMANY
Snd DsnnaEk Ia this connection to ind the heSk
WY of having thfe pian carried the
ether side @ the enharsa6icn Of girls for
% the white slave, srsFsc' ard they were 7 found.
ve-y willing &c advise and hi-ert. they
@cered the Hlaa eood a1e The National Won1au's
Christian Tenneranrf .rTBiru has taken stems tn
tbet direction tnTeaSn Ar~Frica --'iSssrs 81 ta%SH
different cauntrfe<. .s4He--e tp- -,eor.e vzhn
fAvorabIe IDEA Of protecting xfrs the
entrance &c rc~pfry WGCid write the PreE!-
dent at the Write House Il would show him. as II
6AS 3lFeA6y gheWu htEal. that the people in
eYEDa8ky wifi the movement"