New-York tribune., 1919-11-25
Strike Called
BY Soviet at
Ellis Island
Continued from page /

tion Of aliens aboard ship are mere
formallties, matter of checking
names
That immigrants cannot be given
the proper attention, because of the
necessity of looking after the men
under charges of anarchy.
That the escape of thirteen aliens
from the island was due to the in
sufficient force of watchmen.
That the watchmen are handi-
capped in not being permitted by
the government to carry revolyers.
They carry only nightsticks.
Uhl Asks for Watchmen
At the beginning Of the hearing
Representative Isaac Sicgel, of New
York, told the acting commissioner
that the committee was on hand for
constr ctlve, and not destructive,
criticism" "We just want to get at
INC bottom of things" said Mr.. Siegel.
Mr. Uhl told the committee that the
station needed able bodied watch
men and that it "had had nothing but
decrcpit watchmen for a long time"
He said the aliens who made their
9scapes swan to shore or too boats.
-dr. Uni admitted that when feeble
minded persons arc paroled at the
them and that as many as 200 feeble
minded aliens had been paroled and
had been lost by the authorities.
The acting commissioner WAS asked if
one or two physicians examined each
incoming alien. He replied that he
did not know.
Don't you think it's part of your
duty to know?" asked Representative
Sicgel "Do you think the system of
examining these aliens is ideal?"
Il do not" he replied. eve seldom
have sufficient inspectors to do the work
properly. The watchmen and the inspec-
a great deal on the ship stewards to
cooperate with our inspectors. The ex-
animation and inspection OF the steer
age passengers should be transferred
to Ellis Island. 1t is the natural de-
sire of the steamship Companies to see
that as many Of their passengers land
as possible.
More Inspectors Urged
"The lack Of accommodation also is
cause of the trouble. We have sixty.
eight inspectors, and We should nave
not less than thirty more. We have
nine matrons and VIC need twice that
many. There has been no increase ir
watchmen since the thirteen escapes
took place, though we have made some
adjustments.'
Mr.. Uhl said there was u need for re.
vovers, but the watchmen were not
allowed to carry them. He said "ahout
a minute" is given to the physical
inspection OF aliens aboard ship, anc
that no examinations are made to de
termine whether or not the aliens
have contagious diseases. He testified
that the present Facilities at Ellis Isl
and would not now permit the transfer
OF the examining process from tht
ships to the island
Some heated discussion was precipi
tatcd when Mr.. Uhl declared that Con
gressional influence is sometimes ex
erted to admit an alien to the islant
after the alien has been excluded
Representative Siegel contended tha
the pull" of Congressman is neve,
used in such cases.
Augustus p. Schell, immi igration in
spector in charge Of the law division
told the committee that it takes from
one week to several months to dispos.
OF cases of aliens sent to the island.
DR.. John w. Kerr, surgeon in th'
/ United States Public Health Service
testified that more adequate force o
Doctors and inspectors was needed ant
agreed that the examination could no
be conducted properly aboard ship. IL
sa'a the majority of dangerous disease
Wee discovered at Quarantine, and no
b. the immigration inspectors.
To-day the committee viii vsit tn
/ pu'Nc schools of New York