New-York tribune., 1906-08-07
WAITING ALIENS ROAST.
Effort To BE Made to Stop Elhs
Island Sunday Closing.

Nearly five thousand immigrants-the capacity
Of the Immigration Bureau-were landed at
Ellis Island yesterday. The excessive heat MADE
the wheels of examination turn slowly. The
entire force at the island were kept busy
throughout the day, and the fatigue of the inn
migrants after spending a day and a night in
the sultry steerage compartment of a steamer
tied up to her pier did not add TO the speed in
passing through the various channels of the I'M
migration examination. The work would nave
been an easy task had Ellis Island been open
Sunday. The congestion of yesterday was due
to the new rule of the Department of Commerce
and Labor to close the local immigration bureau
Sundays through August September and Oc-
tober
For some time a war has been smouldering
between the immigration officials and the va
rious steamship companies. Both have advanced
reasons for and against the Sunday closing OF
the island, but thus far the immigrants have
been the sufferers.
When Ellis Island opened yesterday there
were 4267 immigrants in port ready to be
passed. Before noon this number was increased
by 264S aliens, who will have to remain aboard
ship until to-day.
The Sicilian Prince, from Mediterranean ports
anchored off Quarantine yesterday. that the inn
migrants might be comfortable in the meagre
breeze of the Lower Bay. The haggard faces
lapse Of many women and children as they left
the hot holds Of the ships yesterday proved the
contention of the steamship companies that the
Sunday holiday for the immigration force means
great hardship 10 Immigrants
II was learned yesterday that the steamship
companies intend to carry the question to Wash
ington If their protest through the local bureau
brings no results.
1t was said yesterday at the Cunard Line office
that the 81 a head tax on each alien was enough
10 maintain a sufficient force at Ellis Island to
handle immigrants every day in the year.
Herman Winter. of the North German Lloyd
Line. said that solely from the point OF view of
humanity the steamship companies protested to
the local bureau He continued:
While our piers in Hoboken are practically
immune from fire, l consider 1t unsafe TO keep
immigrants housed aboard ship while the ship is
at her pier There is great danger of panic fol-
lowing fire, when horde of persons are con-
fined in small space.
The steerage compartments cool at sea
because the ship is under way, and plenty of
/ fresh cool air circuates throughout the voyage.
The conditions are reversed when the ship is in
port. The humidity and heat of the waterfront
and the additional heat from the frerOoms make
| life miserable for hundreds of persons who are
unable to better their. plight.
Furthermore, there is reason why the in
| spectOrs should not work on Sunday. There are
| days at Ellis Island when there is practically
| nothing to do. Why not give the employees
| day off when business Is dull? They know when
| a rush is coming and should provide for IL. II
it is fair for the immigration inspectors to take
Sunday off II is fair also for the customs inSpec-
| tors 70 stay away on Sunday and hold the first
and second cabin passengers aboard ship until
they have time to examine the baggage on
/ Monday