New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-13
CUT RATES APPARENT.
FEAR At ELLIS ISLAND.
Worst to Come-193 an PhiLadet-
phia's Storage Detained.

The 724 Storage passengers who arrived mere
Saturday on the American liner Philadelphia
were landed at Ellis Island yesterday, and under
orders from Commissioner Williams. the inspec-
tors. registry clerks, nlatrons and Marine Hos
pital surgeons used unusual vigilance in decid-
ing the eligibility OF the immigrants.
The Philadelphia Is the first vessel to arrive
here since the American Line. in its fight with
the Cunard Line cut its steerage rate from
southampton TO this port TO f..
One hundred and thirty-three immigrants
were detained for further inspection, the ar
rival of friends, and twenty-five were held for
examination before the Board of Special In
quiry. one official especially detailed 10
learn personally from those detained what in
duced them TO come here, and whether or not
the cheap rate primarily responsible. This
official expressed the opinion that 80 per cent
of The 72i steerage passengers were cheap rate
travellers OF the detained immigrants. the
most money any one had $50. and the least
30 cents. Some had nothing. The man
who had $50 was going to Winnipeg. He had no
ticket beyond this city. His cash will barely
pay his railroad fare 10 Winnipeg.
Another official said:
of the 500 detained cases OF those who came on
the KroOnand last week fully IS per cent have been
Ge sfe on IN qthE secrer of ihe Denartmerf
OF Commerce and Labor. Fifty per cent of the
the passengers were registered have been excluded
and think it is safe to say that per cent of the
will eventually be deported
general in rates threatens to the coun
try, 1t is not the cut rates on the English lines
Northern Europe. Already this ten dollar rate IS
attracting the SUM element Of Northern Europe
the effect AS little as the cut rate has been adj
yertised on the othe- side we already notice de-
terioraton IN the personnel not only or the lmni-
grants who are coming over. but of the friends
who call at Ellis Island TO meet them.
one of the most alarming features Of this rush
Of undesirable immigrants Is the fact that the
cases. but are people who intend to settle in mis-
city; adding to the already eongested condition
II .e iorify % the the M 4etained
What we cali inside cases as distinguished from
special inquiry cases-were going TO friends or rela-
OF these the majority had from 90 cents 10 s. So
each, and many of them had not even one cent
when they reached Ellis Island About 10 per cent
Of these still held the island for special in
irlends or relatives VINO called for then having
qualified so far as the law demands for their care
That is the great stumbling block up
against. The immigration law is inadequate. 1t
0 TTh W. i T SaoSe So br' % a.
IL IS act ito regulate immigration. Nothing
is said about restriction. and there is nothing in
cases OF contagious disease contract labor or the
like
To give some idea OF the inadequacy OF the law
let me tell you that In January this year we have
had Ellis Island l56 applications for relief from
aliens who rave landed here within two years. In
February there were 90 in March lis. in April iiS.
in May 40 and for the FIRST eleven days 81 June So
a total this year OF 12s. against 52S for the
first six months of last year. This speaks for
itself
To-day We have on Ellis Island something over
n thousand immigrants detained for one cause or
another. This does not include those IN hospital at
tho island and the Long Island College Hospital
This Is many had at any time during the
rush times OF year II must be ulhered
that only In the first stages OF this cheap
rate rush. SO far only three ships have arrived
with passengers who had "a chance TO avail them
selves OF this cut IN rates.
During the days there will be half a
dozen ships from Hamburg Bremen and other
Northern Europe ports whose fun Storage capacity
Will De hlled with ten dollar passengers. We look
with dread Tor their arrival for ~ likely that
II Will be impossible TO ind room TO house all We
shall have To detain.
The present facilities Of the building and the
new barracks which were erected on the north
lawn last year how taxed 10 their utmost.
What are We 10 10 with the numbers no are
coming this week When the Philadelphia left
Southampton the two pound rate had barely gone
into effect. but the s.. Louis due here next Satur-
day. has already booked 80 steerags passengers at
the reduced rate.