The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-08

To The Salt Lake Herald:
Sirs.-Much has been said respecting
the persons who We're detained at Bos-
ton, pending a thorough examination as
to their rights TO enter this free coun-
try. but nothing has yet been said as to
the treatment they received whilst await
ing same, and the sneary way which
they received answers during their ex-
animation. The first thing Is that one
half of the questions asked were of no
consequence, according to the law. The
second thing is that this part of the
reason of so much delay. the inspectors
seeming 10 smile when they could con-
verse with the females for half an hour
at time. The first man examined took
three hours and a quarter and then his
wife forty-five minutes. and several
times after, and was not released then,
all this time being wasted. when dozens
of persons who could not be detained
were huddled in the dining room of the
ship and could not get a hearing; and IL
they asked why they We're told there was
too much work to get through.
1t would be noticed that fifty-six of
the party were released whilst fifty-two
were detained because they could not get
landed in Boston about 9 a. m, and as
soon the ship was swarmed with in
spectors II took from then on eight and
one-half hours for twenty inspectors to
examine fifty-six persons. and amongst
same were families, which. doubtless.
would not need SO much time or exam
ination. This was a tedious job for the
inspectors, so much so that it needed
coat and vest off and cigar or pipe in
hand to make the heavy work run
smooth.
All the legal questions. or those in the
interests of the government are answered
on the declaration forms of emigrants
when they book their passage, and If they
need much more surety their inspection
should be at the ports of emigration, and
not cause all the expense for government
and emigrdnt, etc.
The following are a sample of the ques-
tiOns one had to answer:
Where did you purchase your ticket?
For why? Are you married? Yes: how
does your wife become such TO you? Oh.
you are going to your father-in-law. How
did he come to be your fatherin-law?
What is your religion? Why did you
join them and how long ago?
And dozens more quite as hideous ques-
tions were asked each individual. but
when all were answered you were called
three or four times a day to go through
precisely the same program with just the
same effect. and all with the object OF
battling them to make them contradict
some point, and | may state that II there
be any deported for other than becom-
ing a public charge they will have been
baffled with such questions as above, and
a paltry yes or no, said under the
influence of same will have condemned
them. (Not jusD.
Another trembling point Is why did they
not allow the Germans and others, one
lions were answered correctly to the COM
missioner in English by the government
interpreters, which would have been
much more Just and satisfactory to them?
Now, when $50 p. m. came the day the
ship landed. there were fifty-two uneX-
amined. Work must be resumed next day
on their behalf. so they were huddled like
cattle from the boat to a filthy wagon
cite, packed like behring's in box. one or
two officials to see you did not escape
over the side and one TO stand on the
steps. Such was the way most respect
able people were driven through the
streets of Boston, under the pretention
they We're going to catch train for their
destination; but not so. They were de-
tained in prison like criminals, the diet
being onion-water soup. chunk dry bread.
tea or coffee by the gallon. spoons. knives
and forks and china most filthy, and
man to watch you did not escape. Sleep
ing accommodation was like a hen or
monkey pen, wire mattress shelves. one
above the other, sleep dressed, and one
blanket running alive with vermin. so
much so that il turned the brain of one
poor creature so that she had to be taken
to the asylum. There were two inspec-
tors and watchmen to walk the dormi-
tory or sleeping cells of both men and
women, night through and day same,
counting all three or four times a day
with as much form and authority as pos
sible. with snarls and sharp words. and
If YOU were 10 grumble your release would
be longer. Such were the words of those
who sympathZed with you. so they all
had to bite their lips, expecting a re-