New-York tribune., 1905-01-17
SUCCEEDS W. WILLIAMS.
Robert Watchora appointed Com
missioner of immigration Here.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAu.l


Washington. Jan. 16-Presdent Roosevelt
this afternoon selected Robert Watchorn to sue
ceed William Williams Commissioner Of I'M
migration at New-York. Mr.. Watchorn Is at
present supervising immigrant inspector for the
United States at Montreal and has general con-
troll over tho boundary line from the Atlantic to
the Pacific He entered the immigration service
IN 1885 as an inspector at Ellis Island. and by
faithfulness and efficiency soon gained promo
ton. In the last few years his services on the
border have been recognized frequently in re-
ports by chiefs of the immigration Bureau. To
his efforts 1t is said. may be attributed the
almost total discontinuance of the smuggling
Oh Chinese across the Canadian line. which was
formerly so frequent, and he is also credited
with having secured the cordial cooperation of
the Dominion authorities in many important re-
1orms begun by the United States officials. Mr..
Watcborn's home is at Moore's Mills, N. Y. ac-
cording to the records of the Department Of
commerce and Labor. although the official
roster OF government employees. printed by Con-
gress names Washington, Penn, his home.
Il regard Mr. Watchorn as the very best man
that could possibly have been selected for the
place. said Frank p. Sargent, Commissioner
General of immigration, this afternoon. He
has performed splendid service at Montreal. and
the manner in which he has organized the work
Of the bureau all along the border from Blaine.
Wash, to Halifax. N S., proves him to
be little short of a genius. I wish to speak in
the highest terms of Mr.. Watchorns record, and
to say that am very much pleased indeed that
the President selected him for the important
post at New-York. He is in my opinion. just
the man needed there"
Robert Watchorn was born at Alfreton. Derby
shire. England. in 1855 and was educated in
the common schools. He also attended for
fourteen years the night schools of England
and the United States. At early age he en-
tered the coal mines of England and while
still minor ernigrated to the United States.
where he entered the coal mines of Ohio and
Pennsylvania He was elected general secre-
tary and treasurer of the Trades Assembly of
the Knights Of Labor, which was afterwar6 con-
solidated into the United Mine Workers of
America, and was elected its first secretary and
treasurer, serving successive terms. He was
appointed executive clerk to Governor Pattison
Of Pennsylvania, and afterward factory in
spector of that State. In 1895 he was appointed
an Immigrant inspector and assigned 10 Ellis
Island, where he served in every capacity to
which an inspector could be detailed He was
then appointed supervising immigrant inspector,
and by direction of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury and the Commissioner General Of Immgra-
ing UP to the immigration in large numbers Of
Rumanian Jews. who were seeking admission
10 the United States. He was also detailed to
investigate conditions along the Mexican border
with a view to aScertaining the methods adopted
for the entry of inadmissible aliens by that
route Later he detailed TO make similar
investigation with regard to the Canadian bor-
der, which he organized. and at the present time
he is commissioner, with supervision over the
territory from Eastport. Me, to Blaine, Wash.