Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-27
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from Page Two.)

pleted what is known as the Interna :
tional Bridge running from St. Leon
ards. n b., to Van Buren,, Maine, III
funds for its erection if | am correct
ly informed having been contribute !
jointly by the Dominion Government
and the State of Maine.
AS officer charged with the duty Of
supervising the inspection of alien :
entering the United States from Can
ada, on September !, 1911, / took up
with Hon. Parker L. Harrison, Com
missioner Highway Department, Cap
itol Building, Augusta. Maine. undet
whose jurisdiction | was informed tn ,
control ofathe International Bridge
would come, so far as the State o.
Maine is concerned, the matter of hay
ing small structure erected at the
United States end of the bridge, to
provide a suitable office and shelter
for our immigrant inspector. to be sta
toned at that point.
Since that time considerable cor
respondence has passed between this
office and Mr. Hardison. the last let
ter from that gentleman. dated April
20. 1912, assuring me that he realized
the necessity of such a building and
would do what he could to bring about
its erection
think the necessity for a shelter
of some kind for the protection of the
immigration officer assigned to duty
at that point from the severity OF
the cold and winds in winter as well
as from the heat and rain in the
summer, goes without SAYING. AT sew
oral bar tanintG MI ba
where there are International bridges,
the parties controlling said bridges
have not hesitated to provide suita bic
accommodations at the United States
end of the bridge for our officers. The
Likelihood of severe winter weather
setting in at any time makes it i'm
peratiye that prompt steps be taken
in this matter unless the health. and
perhaps life. of the officer assigned
to duty at Van B0ren, is to be en-
dangered
Under Section of the immigration
Act the owner Of a ferry who per-
mits the landing or entry of aliens
without inspection, or of aliens not
duly admitted by an immigrant in
spector. is subject To severe pen
atty ! cannot see why this section
is not Just as applicable to those con-
| trolling an international bridge, which
provides a means for the entry OF
aliens,
one thing is certain. Section 81 of
our immigration Act gives the Secre-
tary Of Commerce and Labor full pow
er to designate what place, or places
may be used for the entry of aliens
and il would appear that if he should
withdraw his consent To the Inter-
national Bridge above referred TO be-
ing place of entry. those in control
OF such structure would be clearly
responsible, under the law. If there
after any aliens should enter the Unit
ed States at such point ] would be
very leath indeed. however, To feel
compelled TO recommend any such ac-
t ton. realizing as do that the carry
ing into effect of such policy would.
in measure at least. defeat the pur-
pose for which the bridge was erected.
We do however. as / have above
| explained, need small structure for
j the use OF our inspector, at this point.
/ which could be provided Nth but 4
! small expenditure of money. and ii
+ appears To me, that if the authorities
/ of Your State fully realized that the
main purpose Of having our officer
stationed at this bridge is to prevent
! the entry at that point of the insane.
/ the immoral the physically unfit.
/ criminals, and those likely to become
/ public charges. that it would be at
once realized that to have him on
guard there is a distinct advantage
/ To the State of Maine. and that those
/ in control of the bridge would be dis
posed 10 speedily grant the slight re-
quest herein made.
As previously pointed out, in asking
that those in control OF the bridge sup
+ ply the shelter. we are only DESIRING
that action be taken similar to that
/ which has already been taken by those
on control of similar bridges. along
the border
trust YOU may he good enough te
/ bring this matter to the proper State
/ authorities Immediately. and that
may be favored with definite informa.
ton as to what action may be expect
ed concerning the within request.
Respectfully.
tSignedD JOHN II. CLARK.
Commissioner"
Depdi tHittil u commerce ana LABOR
I. S. immigration Service Office OF
/ the Commissioner. Montreal Can.
ada, Jan. Q, 1913,
I Hon. Scott Wilson, ae,
Attorney General. State of Maine
/ Augusta, Me
/ Deag Sir have the honor to ac-
knowledge receipt of your letter of the
It'll, in reply to my letter to you of the
3fd instant, relating to the erection OF
a small structure at the end of the In
ternational Bridge, Van Buren,. Maine
Replying to your suggestion that !
give you further information as to the
| kind of a structure desired, / beg to
say that we Wish nothing at all elab-
| crate, but simply shelter, to protec,
our officer who is guarding the bridge
from the elements. If we could have
one room, say II fl X II TT. so situated
that an officer stationed therein could
have a view of the bridge, said struc-
ture to be placed right at the United
| States end IF the bridge. | think our
needs would be met, as there would be
no necessity for a place to detair
aliens, those found inadmissible being
/ 10 a; %