Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-15
KEEPING KEEN WATCH
VIGILANCE OF THE IMMIGRATION
SERVICE INSPECTORS PRAISED.
Secretary Metcalf's Observations on His
Recent Trip to Ellis Island-Aim
of His Department

Secretary Metcalf of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor has seen, under the
most advantageous circumstances and amid
the most clearly environment the tremen-
dous tide of immigration that sweeps into
New York harbor and yet he is of the
opinion that something will sooner or late.
have to be done by Congress for the d.
verting of this tide from the metropolis to
the outer country
The Secretary is not Yet ready to make
any recommendations that will have this
end in view. but il is felt that he will
take that action in the not distant future
He saw, during his recent visit of inspac-
ton to Ellis Island, an average of four
thousand aliens landed there every day.
He was told that this tide flooded the al
ready crowded tenement districts of the
great city and that but a small proportion
Of them ever left the city. He already
knew that through the port of New York
u per cent of all the immigrants to the
United States are admitted. Thousands are
annually refused admittance, but it is the
laxity of these laws that is gradually awak-
ening the serious thought of officials CT
the Department of Commerce and Labor.
Pleased With Officers Work.
II was particularly well pleased with
the work Of the officers of the bureau of
immigration at Ellis Island" said Secretary
Metcalf today. There were more than
four thousand immigrants landed there on
the first day l was there. and all of them
were passed with remarkable rapidity, while
the officers were keenly alert to detect In an
alien the slightest ailment that would bar
him from admission. There are so many
immigrants that even the utmost care IS
not sufficient to bar some of the undesery-
ing. a few are bound to escape observa-
ton and later develop symptoms which, If
known at the time of landing. would have
sent them back at the expense Of the steam
ship company bringing them here.
Most of the immigrants I saw were of a
good type and many of them looked as II
they would make good citizens IL they went
where they were most needed and did not
stay In New York. / am told by an off,
cial Of the municipality of that city that
In one small district inha bited by the worst
of the immigrants who are admitted there
the city daily removes from the streets an
average of fourteen tons of refuse thrown
into the public highways by the residents.
He says that no such condition exists
anywhere else on this continent and that
1t cannot be worse in the most unsanita-y
cities Of the world.
To Avoid Congestion.
''Of course, such a condition must be rem
edied, and 1t will remain for the governing
element to find the remedy. They no doubt
will do this. but in the meantime 1t would
seem that some means should be taken to
avoid such congestion of undesirable in
habitants. There are many sections where
the strength and youth of those immigrants
/ saw could be used to the advantage oesall
concerned. and we ought to get them there
where they are wanted, and not make 1t
agreeable for them to remain in New York,
where the conditions are probably worse for
them than they were at home, and where
they are daily growing worse.
THE work Of the bureau Is splendidly
done, the laws are thoroughly cared for.
and when an immigrant gets into the coun-
try through the lines of inquisitors at any
of the stations he may be sure that he has
a legal right. here or his ailment IL so trifing
that 1t has escaped the attention Of the
keenest eyes. The immigration is increas-
ing. and It will not be long before some
thing VIII have to be done to tighten the
lines, especially regarding the responsibility
OF the steamship companies which bring
them here. In b. large measure these trans
pprta4ion fines are uuifty- Of 'brfngiH9 IN
many immigrants who they know are UNI