New-York tribune., 1911-01-05
SAY NEW ORDER WILL
DELAY HOUR OF SAILING.
Steamship Lines Protest Against
Returning Passengers Blanks
Prior to Departing.
THE PENALTY DETENTION
Even Citizens Not Exempt from
Examination, Which Aims
at Quicker Reports to
Washington.

All the big steamship lines carrying
passengers between this city and foreign
ports were up in arms yesterday against
q new regulation the Department Of
Commerce and Labor imposed on them
relative to outbound passengers, which
went into effect on January /. Unless
notifications were made by the depart
liner would be able to leave port less
than two hours late.
The new order provided that no pas
senger Of the first, second, third or
fourth class should be allowed to go on
board without first presenting to an i'm
migration INSPECTOR certificate in which
eleven questions concerning himself and
family were fully answered. The new
form Of examination was aimed chiefly
at aliens. but even American citizens
were included. the only difference as to
the citizens being fewer questions to be
answered.
II citizen declined TO give such IN
formation. or failed to make out his slip
him from departing on the steamship.
Through the local immigration Bu-
reau the Department Of Commerce and
Labor sent to all the steamship lines
blank certificates, with gummed and per-
forated strips, to be pasted on all out
bound steamship tickets.
AS the prospective traveller approaches
the gangplank he must show his ticket
with the slip attached. If the slip is
properly filled out the passenger may go
aboard. If not he will be detained until
the slip is corrected. In the past Ameri-
can citizens were exempt from filing out
blanks previous TO departure, the mere
Endorsement of their citizenship across
the ticket sufficing.
The steamship companies did not ex-
pect much trouble from American citi-
zens, but were greatly worried over the
delays that would be caused at the piers
by the alien horde not familiar with
English nor with the immigration laws.
II was estimated by steamship owners
that there would be errors in at least
40 per cent Of the alien blanks. and that
the time required to make corrections
would delay steamships from two to
three hours.
Until the new order went into effect
this. year all passengers were allowed to
90 aboard the liners without question.
the old blanks being filled out during the
VOYAGE These were collected by the
purser and sent to Washington on the
return of the steamship to this port.
The statistical department in Wash
inpton. however. objected TO the delay
In getting returns, and devised this new
system In the hope of getting quicker re-
suits.
On learning that the new slip system
was TO be put into force the steamship
companies asked the department to send
a committee to New York and see a few
steamship departures. No action was
taken in the matter at the time, but
later a representative came from Wash
ington, watched the departure Of
steamship with a small passenger COM
plement and, returning to Washington.
reported in favor of the plan proposed.
The new slip system requires the alien
to give family name. given name. age,
sex country OF which citizen or subject.
race. country where he lived before COM
ing 10 the United states, time OF last ar
rival in the United States, city and state
where he last lived In the United States,
the country In which he Is going to live
and occupation.
II the prospective traveller Is an Amer
ican the slip requires information as to
citizenship, age and sex.
The steamship companies will ask that
IN. department be less exacting in the
time required for the delivery OF the
aims