New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-12
NACEL BACKS WILLIAMS
Secretary Again Defends Ellis
Island Management.
FURTHER CHARGES MADE
Minister Compares Immigrant
Station to Calcutta Black
Hole Hearings Closed,
from Tho Tribune Bureau. J

Washington. July u-After listening 10
add!tiona. charges against the immigration
service at Ellis Island and further an.
swer and denial By Secretary Nagel. the
House Committee on Rules to-day closed
its hearings on tbs Sulzer resolution de-
handing an investigation Of the ssrvice.
The committee will hold another meeting
10 decide whether the investigate is iec-
essary
Representative Gardner, OF Massachu-
sets, a member .: the House H-rlnattee
on immigration. asked the Rules Commit
tee # it orders an investigation 10 provide
special committee 70 perform the task.
The Committee on Imnligrat!3n," said
Mr. Gardner, has gone over this ground
time and time again. and has found moth
ing to justify the complaints made. II an
other investigation Is to be had, should
be BY special committee which takes II
up with unprejudiced minds. for our com
nlittee has found nothing to investigate
Secretary Nagel closed the hearing to-
day By taking exception 70 The statement
made by Theodore sutro. president Of the
German American Alliance Of NCv York.
who said that all the German publications
are ccndemning the present system az Ellis
Island
Not all German papers are making these
haphazard attacks on the immigration SER
vice" said the Secretary, who So strong
" defended yesterday those who ar, doing
their best 10 administer the law with the
inadequate facilities provided by Congress.
The laws are being Interpreted con
tinued Mr. Nagel. with as much leniency
as justice will permit. and none O. the
cases which have been brought 70 the al
tention OF this committee shows abuses OF
inhuman treatment COMMISSIONS WI
Jams has replied 70 the specific cA9r5es.
demonstrating that in each case there was
good reason for the action taken by the
authorities The trouble is that these rap.
hazard charges are founded on misiniorma-
ton, and ] cannot believe that Those max
ing them have gone 70 the trouble CT max
ing first hand Investigations
REPRESENTATIVE Sulzer, who wants IN IN
vestigation. told the committee mat he nad
letter from Joseph Lampiaso, o. No. 5V'
Broadway. New York. in which Lampaso
promised to prove that at least orc muir
der has been committed at Ellis Island.
Mr.. sulzer hoped the committee wJuld in
vestieate, and Secretary Nagel ard Com
missioner Williams asserted their willing
ness 70 have Congress investigate the I'M
migration service in general
Among the witnesses who made charges
Of crowdng, filthy conditions, unjustined
deportat tons, improper treatment OF lmml-
grants and general maladninisratlon at
Ellis Island were the Rev. Sidney II. Bass,
OF Harrison Valley, Penn, Aaron W. Levy
representing the Jewish organizations OF
New York State: Macdonald De VIII
New York attorney for "Das Morgen
Journal: Otto Koelble, Of the United Ger
man Societies. and Mr.. Sutro. Mr.. Bass
said he recently came from England that
he was detained at Ellis Island for thirty
three hours: that his quarters were close
and foul. and that he saw one room in
which six hundred immigrants were
packed. The common room. he said. re-
minded him Of the Black Hole Of Cal
cutta The night he spent at Ellis Island
was the most terrible he had ever en-
dured" He said that part Of the time he
was in the common room he lay on the
floor with his head near little ventilat-
ing shaft Others took turns al this ven
tlator.
Mr. Levy expressed the opinion that the
Ellis Island officials were constituting the
present statute in direct violation Of the
spirit and letter Of the law He asserted
that there was studied programme Of
exclusion" and that the chief reason for
deportation in many cases he had found
was because the person was destined TO
a congested district"
The Law on its face TO-DAY is fair" said
M Koelble, but at New York we have
an administration not according 10 the let
ter OF the law. Mr. Williams has shown
that he wants harsh administration Of
the law. He has proved that he does not
believe in 2 liberal American Interpretation
Of it