The Detroit times., 1911-02-14
works FOR LIBERAL
IMMIGRATION LAW
New Society Wants Definite Rules
Laid Down For Admission or
Rejection of New Corners.

NEW YORK. Feb. 14.-The immi
grafton officials at Ellis island ar
having their troubles as result o
the recently adopted policy of NOR,
restrictive immigration, says tn,
World.
That the percentage OF deportation
has increased constantly since VIII
lam Williams became commissioner o
immigration at Ellis Island Is freel.
admitted and proven by the records
Star chamber proceedings embodie,
In the special boards OF inquiry an,
the sweeping power OF exclusion un
der the IL. p. C."-liable to becom,
public charge-regulation make 4
possible to exclude hundreds OF alien
who, II is alleged by many. woul,
make excellent citizens. On the othe
hand, II Is pointed out that the Law
does not provide proper precautiol
for the exclusion Of the crimina
classes.
An alien may not enter this coun
try IL he or she has served time II
jail. When a foreigner reaches Ellii
Island AMI is questioned, the officials
unless they have outside information
must rely on the aliens word. III,
has usually been forewarned and wheI
asked II he has been In jail naturally
answers In the negative.
Details of unjust exclusion cases, Il
Is asserted, are kept from the public
as much as possible, and officia
biunders carefully concealed: infor
AtAk tah tnA tA
prejudice or lack of proper care il
withheld. The inspectors. into whose
ears are poured hard luck stories and
rleadings. some justified and some
not, are forbidden to talk upon pair
of dismissal As one inspector said
"lf I should tell you the details of 0
certain case l know and II reached
the ears OF the commissioner, I'D lose
my job"
... Missionaries Sileneed.
Even the missionaries who repre-
sent the various religious societies or
Ellis Island are subject to the auto
cratic rule of the commissioner. In
one case where an appeal to Washing
ton had been filed, the matter dis
posed OF and the aliens allowed tc
enter the country, the missionary said
that he did not dare show the papers
for fear the commissioner would bal
lin and his society from Ellis Island
The severe policy of exclusion hai
aroused resentment Of persons OF al
|nationalites. Within the last month
the American immigration society wa
formed to advocate and urge the pas
sage Of sane, definite and concise i'm
migration laws. At present the ad
mission or exclusion of aliens Is lef
largely to the judgment Of Inspector
I'm the special boards OF inquiry.
When an alien is brought before
such a board he or she is denied the
benefit of counsel or the presence o.
friends or even missionary. Re
porters, as well as the general pub
lie, are barred.
A demand has been made by thou
cands OF persons. not only former
aliens and friends and relatives o.
aliens, but citizens who trace theil
ancestry back many generations, fol
n law that shall permit OF no discrim
nation; that definite rules shall bs
aid down governing the admission ol
rejection of immigrants to this coun
try, SO that an alien may know be
fore leaving the land OF his birtf
whether or not he is eligible to en-
ter the United States.
Such law, It Is pointed out. would
eliminate much needless pain, suffer
ing and anxiety in the long trip across
the ocean and back, the loss OF former
homes and the disappointment re
sulting from being excluded after nav
ing once reached these shores. THAI
hundreds are unjustly deported IL
shown by the large number having
influential friends who have appealed
to Washington and won their admis
sion to this country. II would bt
hard to estimate Just how many have
come here, friendless and alone, ant
have been turned back, when undel
the proposed law they might have
bcen admitted.
Protest Against Exclusion.
Societies, missionaries and tha
large army OF persons who believe
that this country has reached Its pres
ent state of marvellous development
through the benefits OF unrestricted
Immigration voice the protest In thu
assertion that this country Is broat
and resourceful enough to provide
livelihood for other millions of NOR
al. healthy workers, whether the!
are iIliterate or educated, wealthy o
roor. II man Is physically capable
and willing to work, there is littl'
likelihood that he will become q pub
lie charge, they say.
These persons unanimously agre
that the exclusion law should b.
strict regarding criminals, aliens Wit
frail bodies, diseased persons an
those of immoral character Stats
cics Of italy show that one out o
every 80 persons has served time o
IA at present In Jail. II is reasone'
trat approximately the same pei
centage OF criminals should Obtain
IN the vast numbers that dock her
from italy. II proper investigation
were made thousands OF Italian
would be excluded yearly because o
their criminal records and the coun
try would not be overrun with Blacl
Hand agents. During the fiscal yea
ending June 30, 1910, 100000 1talian'
came to this country. OF this numbe
;b were deported as criminals. ltal!