New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-13
Here Are Explained the Details of the Sitting
Process Designed to Exclude Idiots, Grim
inals, Beggars, Diseased Persons and
Contract Laborers from Entry
Into This Land

I governments in keeping track of them,
except on rare occasions. Commissioner
williams has recommended such coop
GRAFTON with police authorities in regard
to criminals. 1t is chance and the alert
| ness Of the inspectors which nab the
crook and those other enemies Of society.
Not long ago Mr.. Jankovski saw an evil
| face in line and when his turn came in
quired casually:
| When were you in jail?'
II never in JAIL" exclaimed the star
tied applicant
why, II says so on the record here
Where? Let me see him." anxiously.
| The inspector gravely pointed to- the
southeast corner of the manifest. The
applicant, who could not read, gazed at
| the indicated writing and then admitted
he had been in Jail On further ques-
| tioning he confessed he had been In jail
twice. So he could not qualify.
When a party OF bearded and booted
denizens of the Caucasus came along
the inspector chaffed them on the wife
question. They said that Of course they
would be glad to have several wives
apiece and did have a few extra ones at
home, which convicted the outfit as be-
ing polygamists and not admissible 10
this country.
The disadvantage OF the method is
! that it catches chiefly the small fry A
cunning and dangerous criminal is not
easily trapped by questions. The simple
minded Mahometan polygamist is ex-
posed. but not the clever white SLAYER
against whom there is only suspicion
1t is probable that a capable anarchist
would not be detected unless he were
examined by the subtle minds who wrote
the statute excluding him from our fair
land Under a strict reading Of the
statute G. b Shaw, Maxim Gorky, Prince
Kropotkin and Christabel Pankhurst
could not enter "our midst" Nor would
there be any welcome for politicas
exiles Happily this section of the law
| Is executed with discretion and there are
few cases in which it is invoked. There
were five excluded anarchists" In 1910.
and none last year. A San Diego free
speech fighter named Prashner was
brought here to be deported last May
but Secretary Nagel ordered his release.
The board OF special inquiry which ex-
amines doubtful cases is composed OF
three long experienced men, There lie q
stenographer to take down testimony ana
an interpreter If required. The frst
thing I'm a doubtful case is to send off a
telegram to a near relative or friend.
These kilograms are ready printed TO
cover ali cases and need only a few
words OF filling in. Take this sample:
| al
Doctors have certified me as
physically defective. having heart dis
ease. and likely to become a public
charge. State what you can and will do
for me If permitted to land
Another reads:
send afidavit showing relationship.
ability and willingness to support. your
intention to send me TO school until
am sixteen"
And this one:
Send affidavit showing business. finan-
cial ability, whether you will marry me
Immediately upon arrival"
The latter form sometimes indicates ro-
nance Again. It may mean charitable
Interpretation of the law to make good
the miscalculation Of youth.
Subject to appeal to the Commissioner
and the Secretary OF Commerce and La
Dor, the board of special inquiry, after
taking account OF physical and other con-
dltions, has power to exclude an allen.
The decisions of the board may be and
are at times reversed. This is quite
proper and does not reflect on the board.
remarks Commissioner Williams, forI the
power OF the board is limited and the ex-
ercise CT special lenlency is the function
of the highest authority. Among the cases
OF deportation most attacked by hostile
critics are those classed as separation OF
families" These cases generally refer to
families OF which some members have
landed here, and the other members. often
applying for entry several years later. are
Continued q, seventh page.