Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-09
JAP PRISONERS
GIVEN A HOME
CHINESE FORCED TO CELLS IN
COUNTY JAIL
RETREAT FOR SUBJECTS OF THE
MIKADo DISCOVERED
Inspector Ridgway Explains That
Federal Laws Are Responsible
for Distinction With Small
Difference

That extra courtesies are shown Jap
anese prisoners detained by the immi-
grafton service of the United States is
admitted by Albert c. Ridgway, in
spector in charge of the United States
immigration service, with headquarters
in Los Angeles.
When a Japanese man or woman is
detained by the federal government in
Los Angeles they are housed cared for
and fed at the expense Of the govern
ment outside of the walls of the county
Jail, where ordinary federal prisoners
are kept This fact became known yes
terday and is explained by Mr.. Ridg-
way in a manner apparently Satlstac-
tory to the government.
At 1127 West Second street, in the
comfortable and commodious home OF
Deputy Constable Charles w. Benja-
min, connected with Justice Summer
fields court, there is maintained at the
expense of the federal government a
home for japanese prisoners held in
detention by the immigration service.
They are afforded much better food,
are under less restraint and have more
comforts and consideration than are
accorded Chinese or other federal pris-
oners.
Distinction Not Denied
That this method presents a distinc-
ton without difference is obvious and
is not denied by officials of the immi-
grafton service. The Japanese are
treated as wards under the general i'm
migration law, while in the case or
Chinese Illegally in this country the
special exclusion act applies.
The special japanese domicile was
located by The Herald yesterday, ana
a representative of the paper called at
the house and made inquiries about a
stated that Japanese prisoners were
kept there, but said there were none
there at the present time. The house is
large enough to afford accommoda-
tions for a considerable number or peo-
DIE. and it is said that as many as
fifteen japanese have been housed there
at one time.
II is asserted that special cooks are
employed to prepare the meals for the
Japanese, and that special guards are
employed to keep them in the h1gh-
classed prison. In more than year
only one has escaped.
Jail for Chinese
The ordinary method of handling
federal prisoner is to place him in the
county iail the federal government
paying 35 cents a day for his keep.
This happens when a Chinese is arrest
ed for being illegally in this country IN
violation of Ln6 GACIuSIOIl clCl5 VI any
other federal prisoner is held on any
charge. But the government has not
seen fit to place japanese prisoners III
durance vile, pending the determine
tion of their cases Instead, they are
cared for elsewhere and shown consid-
Grafton not given other federal prison.
ers or charges.
When asked about the matter yes
terday Mr.. Ridgway inspector IN
charge of the immigration service
1--WE do not handle the Japanese in
the same way that we handle the chi
nese. In the one case we work under
the exclusion law; in the other we op-
crate under the general immigration
law.
"a Chinaman illegally in this coun-
try is placed under arrest, warrant is
issued for him from the United States
marshaPs office and he is tried before
n United States commissioner and is
acquitted or found guilty and deported,
according to the facts and evidence.
Difference Is Outlined
"In the case of a Japanese immi-
grant. or other immigrant, the proceed
ure is different. The immigrant is
brought before the immigration inspec-
tor. who does not sit as a court, but
simply as an inquisitor and determines
whether or not the Immigrant shdll O0
permitted to remain in this country.
During the time that the immigrant Is
in detention it is at the expense of the
government The reason there Is
difference shown in the handling or
Chinese and Japanese is that in one
case we are working under a specific
law and in the other under regulations
and an agreement between the govern
ments OF japan and the United States
In both instances we are operating un-
der federal statutes.
SIN New York the immigrant station
is at ELLIS island. In San Francisco IL
is on Goat island. There are Special
places at Philadelphia, Boston and 9TH
er points, but we have no such insti-
tuition in Los Angeles. Hence we ar
range to have the aliens looked after
in a different way"
Mr. Ridgway stated that there never
had been any effort to conceal the fact
that Japanese in detention were not
placed in the county jail.