New-York tribune., 1919-11-24
immigration Committee
of House Boards Ship,
Finds Confusion Due TO
insufficient Inspectors
Calls Condition
The ''WOrst Ever
Mexican Border Jumping
by Radicals Another
Charge by the Probers

Members of the Congressional Immi-
grafton Committee met the White Star
liner Adriatic at Quarantine yeste rday
They saw what they declared to be an
inadequate, underpaid force of immi-
grafton inspectors tackle the appar-
entity hopeless task of separating de-
slrables from undesirables in the mob
of incoming aliens and declared that
conditions were worse than they ever
had been.
This situation was found, too, &C
cording to Representative Albert John
son, chairman of the committee. at a
time when radical agitators of all sorts
were swarming to the United States.
With more and better paid inspectors,
the committee decided, the work could
be done in a way to protect the inter
ests of the United States
eve found conditions aboard the
Adriatic worse than they have ever
been in the immigration SERVICE" said
Representative isaac Siege1, of New
York. "It is not the fault of the in
spectors. The men doing the work
are entirely competent, but the force is
so small that it is an impossiblity
to conduct the work with any dis
patch.
"Confusion Due to insufficient Force"
"a great deal Of time is lost in the
examination and the medical inspec-
tlon, and because Of a limited force the
doctors are compelled to do their work
in a hurry. The members of the
committee are convinced that the i'm
migration inspectors are underpad.
They also are subject to fines for the
slightest offensc. We were highly
| pleased with the manner in which the
inspectors performed their work, but
very much displeased with the con-
fusion we saw, which is due to an
insufficient force"
1t was no time for the United States
to be lax in its immigration inspec-
ton, Representative johnson declared,
but was in fact most critical period
for men Of many nations were seeking
its shores with the object of incitne
discomfort and revolution. He de-
clared that 100 "Reds" were sneakng
into the United States every twenty
four hours across the Mexican border
Japan and Switzerland are crowded
with radicals of all kinds trying to
reach the United States,' said Mr.
Johnson.
Free Ride to New York
'In Mexico there is we'll worn
underground route by which they come
here. They seem to believe that the
United States is the one country in
the world where their propaganda may
be fruitfully spread.
"ln my opinion every alien who APP
proves Of the L. W. ". or Communist
program has thereby made himself sub
ject to deportation without any othel
evidence One trouble is that the /
w. W. is an American institution. Out
West we have found that many /. W
W.'s have pretended TO be aliens il
order to get a free trip to New York
When they arrive here they show
proof Of Anne erican citizenship. Hence
they cannot be deported."
A Secret Service man who arrived il
New York yesterday from the Mexican
border confirmed the statements made
BY Repre- Johnson that radi
cal agitators were reaching the United
States through Mexico almost unim
peded. He is to confer to-day with
members Of the House committee.
Almost Military, He Says
II L., l.. / L 4
coming across the border in such mum
stealth as to lead to the suspicion tina
a powerful faction was aiding them
Trainloads of them were sent to inte
rior points, he said, from both east ant
west coast ports and thence set out il
great caravans for their promised land
These border jumping expedition
proceeded almost in military formation
he said; had experienced guides ant
were preceded by scouts, who reported
when the point selected on the borde
was clear of both immigration inspec
United States, he continued, the alien
scattered far and wide, most of then
gong to the mining or lumber region
OF the West and some seeking manufac
turing centers
The Congressional committee intend
to meet other ships. Most of toda
will be spent at Ellis Island, where tn
committee will examine ofiic als. Th
work of the committee is expected t
extend over several weeks, and to re
suit in recommendations that will Civ
the United States an immigration serv
ice that will meet its needs
: The committee is composed of Repre-
sentatives Johnson, Washington; Siege
, New York; J. 4. Raker, California
W. N. Vaile, Colorado; King Swopt
Kentucky; w. r. Welty, Ohio; j. {
BOX. Texas and r WiiSn1