Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-23
Selected by Tavenner

The following substantial achieve
| NETS i'm the efficient administration 81
| the station have been effected by Com
| missioner Howe:
/ I'D A thorough investigation with
experts was made of tho cost of hos
| pitfalls which were alleged to he self
sustaining. The commissioner found
that the hospitals were losing over
500. 900 a year, which loss was being
paid by the government for the bene-
fit of the steamship companies lie
secured an increase in hospital
charges to steamship companies which
has increased the earnings of the hos
pitfalls by approximately 100000;
"C2) He reinvestigated requests for
money for permanent appropriations
and after investigation reduced such
request. in 1915, by 100000;
"(3) He reduced, in response to war
conditions, the operating salary costs
of Ellis island station by approximate
ly $4,000 year:
90 He investigated the many i'm
migration lodging houses and homes
in New York and brought about a
cleanup in a number of them;
90 He secured the cooperation of
the commissioner of police to clean up
the conditions which surrounded the
barge office, and by so doing protected
the incoming immigrants at New York
from the individuals who had prev
iously preyed upon them;
400 He investigated and brought
about many reforms in the protection
Of the aliens enroute from Ellis is
land, both at Jersey City and along the
route;
"(7) He organized all Of the en-
ployes at the station into an associa-
ton for making the wants of the en-
ployes known and for securing the CO.
operation of all the employees in the
administration of the station;
"(S) He brought about a reOrgani-
cation of the purchasing of supplies
for the hospitals at a great saving and
improvement in the service:
"(9) He made an investigation of
the conditions under which landing of
first and second cabin aliens were
made at the various piers around New
York, and ended many abuses and
losses to which the aliens were ex-
posed;
"(1O) He brought about change in
the inspection of first and second cab /
in aliens on shipbOard which greatly /
improved the service;
I'D He made a number of stud !
les at the request Of the department I
as to means for increasing the eficien- |
cy and the rating of the employees:
"12) He greatly increased the out
put of the division of statistics and /
brought about complete change in |
the filing system;
"G3) He worked in cooperatfon
with the board of education of New
York for the opening of the night
schools for the education of adult
aliens;
90 He organized a number of
agencies looking to the protection of
aliens in New York;
DO He organized a movement in
1916 for Americanization day ceIebra-
ions throughout the country. and over
100 cities held citizenship celebrations
IS result Of the commissioners eff
orts;
"G6) During the past two years
ellis island has been almost free from
he constant criticism on the part of ;
orelgn organizations and of the for :
ign press, which prior to his admin !
stration was continuous. 1t was di- ;
ected at the alleged lack of kindness
ma consideration to incoming aliens. /
The nonforeign press of New York has 5
een almost continuous in its approval I
I his administration and the many {
hanges and improvements which he {
as brought about. s
L remain very respectfully yours, 4
''W. B. WILSON. a
Secretary of labor" I
When one considers that the very a
rst industrial relations with which / 7
ne immigrants come in contact are '
le industrious activities of big and t
tile interests to take their money h
way from them, It is easier to esti- il
late the fine quality Of public service Y
lat Frederick G. Howe has given lie c
as served the immigrants He has a
ided TO the distinction Of the nres- O
Mt administration of the government. r
mas made the property rights with a
his jurisdiction get in line with hui b
an rights. He has served cOnstruc- h
We democracy. lie has advanced the "
cal of public service that holds an b
zen hand for fair play and honesty. m