Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-27

the part of the United States: that this
bridge affords an avenue for the entry
of aliens is. therefore, not due to any
desire or action on the part of the
United States government, but is pure
II u local matter. Whenever any pri-
vate corporation along the border has
created n new place of entrance for
aliens, it has uniformly been required
to also provide the means whereby our
officers might have n place in which
20 inspect said aliens; and if the mem
bers of the committee en- federal re-
latiors are laboring under the impress
sion that the United States govern
,nent has erected buildings at the vari-
Gus ports of entry along the border to
take care OF aliens brought in by
means provided by corporations, then
I can only say that they have been
misinformed. There is no difference in
principle between a bridge owned by
q private corporation and one whose
ownership is public.
1t IS true, that the federal law does
not provide, in specific terms, that this
expense shall be borne by the party or
parties responsible for the creation of
the means OF entrance. Indirectly.
however. it has this effect, for so far
as the land boundaries of the United
States are concerned, full and COM
plete authority is vested in the secre-
tary of our department to designate
the place or places at which aliens may
enter the United States, and entry AT
any place not so designated is made
unlawful (Sec 80; it is then provided
~, hut hn
BILE for the entrance of any alien mot
duly admitted by an immigrant in
spector or not lawfully entitled to en-
ter tho United States" shall be sub
ject TO n specified penalty. The United
States is called upon to bear a great
expense i'll the matter of providing
the officers and necessary equipment
COR the border inspection work. and |
Go not think would be disposed to en-
terrain for a moment the matter of
providing a shelter at the end of the
International bridge at Van Buren,,
which action, if taken, would be re-
garded as a precedent, behind which
every transportation company and
bridge company along the border would
seek refuge.
I shall be very glad to get as early a
decision in this matter as possible, so
that may report the matter to our
department. | trust that the legisla-
tors may see the wisdom and justice
of granting the request made
Very respectfully,
tSisned) JOHN H. CLARK,
Commissioner"
Now, Mr.. President, to my mind,
this explanation does not furnish a
sufficient reason why. the State of
Naine should be called upon to build
this office for this Inspector. this gov
eminent official, stationed at Van Blu
rem. I understand that-I am not very
familiar with the geography of that
section-I understand that Van Blu
rem IS situated about 40 miles south
Of Fort Kent and 70 to so miles north
of Houlton; that there is an inspector
at both those places; that at Van Blu
rem there is a custom house within
stones throw, nearly, of the end of
the Van Buren, bridge, not much far
Their than from the State House to the
Augusta House. If that be true, that
there is custom house or q govern
ment building of some sort as near to
the end of the Van Buren, bridge as
that. it would seem to me that such a
building could be used to shelter the
inspector.
l do not understand that it is neces-
sary for the inspector to stand at that
bridge in order to hold up every per-
son vino passes over that bridge, to
inspect those parties. / do not under
stand that it is the duty of the inspec-
tor to patrol the border so that no one