Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-03

Tb. denoralization of immigration to
,hs limited States because OF the war
is shown by the enormous decrease In
the number of arrivals at this port dur
ing the last u months, according to Com
missioner OF Immigration Elmer n.
C;reenawalt's report for the fiscal year,
ending June 3O Only sa2o immigrants ar
rived here the last year. as against Co.
b21 in the previous year, or loss Of
nearly so per cent; 1918 was a banner
year, with 5000 arriving
THE decrease has been greatest In the
last eight months, when only 2272 per-
sons arrived, most OF them American
citizens The loss ls becoming greater
dafly -as no passenger carrying ships are
scheduled to arrive here for month
Mutterings Of the coming war In Europe
IN July began to effect immigration. with
the HamburR-American and North Ger
man lloyd vessels running on regular
schedule during July and early in August.
$50 aliens were brought in. England tied
i,p the German boats after that, and the
decrease became marked. Gradually the
figures dwindled until n new low record
was established in January with the ar
rival. OF only. 81 immigrants. This record
aid not stand long. as February figures
dropped nine under those CT January. and
then in March the arrivals dropped to 81.
The arrival of one, steamship on each the
American Line and an Italian line in
April raised the figures to $40. May
showed only q, and an Italian limo vessel
brought in 299 In June.
In the extremely low months the ar
rivals were principally from the West In
dies and for the most part were Ameri-
can citizens.
Before the war the North German
Lloyd and the Hamburg-American line
steamships were strong rivals in bringing
immigrants to this port. They led all
other companies by n great majority.
Other lines engaged in the trade were
the Red Star. Allan, American and an
italian line. The German lines were tied
up with the Red Star line early in Au-
gust. The British Government requisi-
toned most OF the Allan Line boats. which
tied up the service. This left only the
American line and the italian line in the
field.
Great Britain took over the steamships
Haverford and Merton. of the American
Line, early in the year. leaving the Do
minion the only steamship in the service.
Italy's recent entry into the war has
crippled the Italian lines.
Philadelphia now has only one pas
henger vessel on European schedule. This
steamship. the Dominion, is now on hel
way here from Liverpool, but there is not
apassenger in cabin or steerage on board.
Fear of the dangers OF the war zone is
the cause.
When the decrease in the number OF
immigrants became evident the Depart
ment OF Labor found that many of the
immigration inspectors had little or no
work to do. In order to save money
plan of monthly vacations without pay
was arranged. This schedule still is in
effect and the men are compelled to take
their vacations" in their turn.
At this port the establishment OF
branch of the Labor Distribution Bu-
reau. under the direction of Commits
sioner Greenawalt. gave work TO many
Of the inspectors. who were nearly over
whelmed when the vast army OF unem-
ployed began iiling applications for en-
ployment early in the year.
The detention house for immigrants at
Gloucester, which is rated as the best
OF its kind In the country is almost silent
today Only few immigrants who have
been detained from a recent ship are
there. They have the entire building to
themselves. Formerly not less than 100
Immigrants were detained there daily.
One OF the chief sufferers from the de-
cline in immigration is Mrs. Mary Palmer.
widow. who has q contract for furnish
ing meals to the detained immigrants at
IS cents each day. The more immi-
grants the greater proht for her. and but
few immigrants means a loss.