New-York tribune., 1916-07-22
Segregation of Warrant
Cases Ordered at Once
by DensmOre.
BUREAU SEEMS TO BE
WITHOUT A HEAD
Aliens Money May Be Doled
Out to Prevent Gambling
or Bribe Attempts.

Summary changes In the general reg
ulations and customary discipline rela-
tive to immigrants were made at Ellis
Island yesterday, following a visit Of
inquiry by John B. Densmore, solicitor
of the Department Of Labor.
IL was reported that Mr.. Densmore
Is in full charge Of the local immigra-
tion bureau, and will maintain that
position until Commissioner Howe re-
turns from his vacation at Siasconset,
Mass.
Nr. Densmore went 10 the island
early in the day, and shortly after noon
the changes in regime were put into
effect.
Segregation Plan Enforced.
Alien women of i'll repute, gamblers
and other persons detained for deporta- .
tion-those known as warrant cases
were segregated from those assumed
to be up to the standard of morality.
The customary liberty of persons of
all classes and sex 70 roam about at
will in the recreation quarters was at
once curtailed.
Apart from the assumption of COM
mand by Mr.. Densmore, the routine af-
fairs OF the island are being admins
tered by Augustus Sherman, chief
clerk, who entered the immigration
service some twelve years ago and
served in the days of Commissioners
Williams and Watchorn.
Byron II. Uhl, the Deputy Commits
sioner, who was acting Commissioner
for many months between the expira-
tion of the term of Commissioner Will
Jams and the appointment of Mr.. Howe
reported i'll yesterday, and the affairs
of the island were relegated to Mr.
Sherman, the third in command. Mr.
Sherman expects to so away on leave
to-day, and Walter Brown, another
clerk, will assume the duties of Com
missioner.
See Investigation On.
Although it had been announced tha,
the visit of Mr.. Densmore was nothing
more than one of his customary in
spection trips, report was current on
the island yesterday that he was there
to make a specific investigation.
His inquiries about certain details
practically all Of which bore directly
upon the recent charges made by Rep
resentative William S. Bennet, gave
rise TO the belief that he mad been sent
here to make a thorough inquiry into
the alleged abuses and laxity Of system
and discipline put into being during
the administration of Commissioner
Howe.
Mr.. Densmore went first to the ex-
ecutive Offices in the Administration
Building, where he reviewed and set
tied some appeals that would eventually
have come 10 him in his capacity as
Acting Secretary of Labor in the alb
sence of Secretary Wilson. His tour oil
inspection was made largely along the
lines of the cursory tour OF the island
made on Thursday by Representative
Isaac Siegel.
Siegel Inquiries Followed.
II became known yesterday that Mr.
Siegel when taken about the island
made specific request to see where the
immoral women of the warrant case
class were kept, and then asked to see
the detention rooms of the criminal
class awaiting deportation. These fea-
lures were looked into yesterday BY
Solicitor Densmore.
Since the liberal policy of Mr.. Howe
lifted the bars of restriction for the
general welfare of the alien the classes
and sexes have not been restricted as
to sex or to class in the enjoyment OF
the recreation porch and the grounds.
Whatever other reforms Mr.. Dens-
more may have in mind, they will not
be put into effect Immediately. The
process Of change in some features will
he gradual 1t is thought. however,
that he will promptly put an end TO
the freedom with which aliens are per-
mitted to use money on the island.
IL was the imperative rule under
Commissioner Williams that all de-
tanned persons known as warrant cases
should not be allowed to maintain in
their possession any sums OF money
exceeding five or six dollars. This re-
striction tended TO obviate bribery in
an effort 10 flee the island and elm
mated gambling.
A report that the banking scheme"
Of Commissioner Williams was to be
put into force again caused much spec
ulation among employees OF the island
as to it's effect upon Jake Czerovltz,
the oldest boarder" on the island.
Jake's Mysterious Supply.
Jake spends an average of 50 day
in buying delicacies from the city for
the purpose Of treating his friends, and
according 20 those who knew him when
lie first came to the island, he had only
$37 on arrival.
II was said at Ellis Island Yesterday
that Representative Siegel had beer
delegated by the immigration Commit
tee Of the House of Representatives 70
investigate the charges brought by
Representative Bennet against the ad-
ministration of Commissioner Howe
and that he had already reported brief
ly to p. w. Burnett, the committees