New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-07

in my native land. 1t appears that
they have the power to say whether an
American who has been abroad shall
he allowed to return to his own coun-
try. IF they have the power to permit,
they have the power to forbid. What
would happen TO an American VINO
should decline TO so through the pre-
scribed formalities ] really do not
know. Whether lie would be kept a
prisoner on the ship, whether he would
he sent to that pigsty OF an Ellis ISL
and whether he would be returned 10
the country whence he came. whether
we would he prosecuted and fined or
imprisoned, seems to be uncertain. My
visit here was to be so short that there
was no time for trying experiments.
We we're all notified on the Lusitania
that We must apply at the Purser's Of
fee for landing tickets-as if the Lusi-
tania were a Channel steamer plying
between Dover and Calais. There, Cor
the convenience of the ships Officers,
the steward who examines your pas
sage ticket hands you a landing card,
10 be delivered up at the gangway as
YOU go ashore. -, is a useless. and
needless Formally. but it involves no
inquisition, or inquiry of any kind into
your nationality or history. 1t is sim
ply a piece of official fussiness. You
comply and go your way.
But on the arriving Atlantic steam
ship these proceedings are something
very different. There is, 1 believe, q
new immigration Act, a law OF TIE
land first enforced last year. There is
a Bureau Of immigration. and Heaven
knows what beside. Every passenger,
whether first, second or third class, is
an object Of suspicion; and of this sus-
picion he has to clear himself before he
NAV set his American foot on the
American shore ! take my own case
as an example, but all cases are alike
when the passengers are American.
hope | am not a more suspicious char
acter than others OF my countrymen
who have taken the liberty TO 90
abroad and wish TO return. We all fare
alike.
Well, in the first place. the American
abroad intending to return. has to ex-
plain himself 10 the steamship COM
pany. It is not the steamship company
which requires this. The British own
ers are compelled, whether by Ameri-
can statute or IN order to avoid fric-
ton with the American authorities, to
act as agents Of the American govern
ment: which thinks itself entitled, tut
is not, to legislate for both shores OF
the Atlantic Ocean. II obliges or in
duces the Cunard company in Liverpool
70 send its American passengers en-
barking from that port for New York
a form to All up. To this British COM
pany the American has to give in writ"
ing on a printed form, his name. his
age, his place Of birth, and other par
ticulars; his calling or occupation and
whether he is married or single. You
comply because a refusal might bring
the innocent company into trouble with
the immigration people in New York
whom we all know to be capable OF
very arbitrary acts.
Once on the snip, new Formally be-
gins: more than one. Your statero0m
steward demands your passage ticket
which he examines to see whether the
entries are done to his satisfaction
Presently you find your cabin strewn
with papers which a benevolent but
grandmotherly government desires yoi
TO I'LL up afresh. More informa'
ton is wanted,-this time by the Gus
tom House and Treasury Department
You are desired TO give minute par
ticulars about your trunks and hand
baggage and cases and parcels; how
many Of each and how many alto
gether, and what is in them. II Is
thoughtfully explained to you at the
same time on terra Gotta colored cir
cular that, whatever you declare, youl
declaration will go for nothing, but the
Inspector or appraiser will examine
your belongings as II no declaration
had been made. The chief or perhaps
only use Of your declaration seems &c
be that in the event Of the appraiser
considering 1t incorrect it may be
made the foundation Of criminal pro
ceedings. This, it is further explained
involves no reflection on your mora
character or your honesty. 1t puts you
in the same category with the I'm
porter. Which is the same thing as
saying that YOU and the importer are
alike regarded as actual liars and In
tending smugglers.
Having launched this insult in cold
print. the customs people then leave
YOU in peace; IL peace be an accurate
description of your state OF mind whiie
during some days, you have to looF
forward to the inquisitoriai proceeding
on the dock: a wrangle with the IN
spector: and your things meanWhii'
turned out on a dirty floor ana over
hauled by the not too clean hahds u
the appointed official. Here / am M
longer speaking Of my own experience
nor have I any personal grievance u
air. II is the grievances of others ah'
especially Of women, that ] nave IL