The sun., 1919-07-15
$500 ALIENS DAYS
QUOTA FOR EUROPE
Foreigners Representing &c.
100000 Earned Here Hasten
to Get Passports.
CLERKS WORK TO 9 P. NJ.
italians and Other Southern
Races Predominant in ExO-
' dus for Home.

Thirty-nve hundred aliens besieged
the Passenger Control Unit OF the Gus
toms Intelligence Bureau yesterday
They represented approximately SS,T5o'-
600 in bank accounts and their unani-
nous demand was that passports be
given to them so they can return 10
their European homes. The vast ma
jority OF them were citizens OF south
Europe-Italy. Greece, Portugal. Czecho
Slovakia and some of the Balkan states.
Moreover more than half OF them de-
elared no intentions of returning to
America
II was by far the largest crowd to
present itself in one day for passports
since the transatlantic passenger lines
have resumed operation. The forty clerks
viseing their papers and attending to
the routine of the Office worked until
Q o'clock last night and still there re-
manned some of the aliens who were not
accommodated. These will have to ap-
ply again to-day.
The chief reason for the record break
I'M, crowd yesterday is found In the fact
that three liners will sail for south Euro
ficials declare that the Italians are the
most anxious to return home and that
this nationality predominates in the daily
throngs 1t was declared that the rush
will continue and even increase as the
restrictions on emigration are lifted and
the transatlantic lines add to their sail
irgs.
Three Reasons for Going Home.
One official declared that the appli-
cants can be divided~1nto three classes
In regard to their reasons for wanting to
20 home. First, there are those who
have made II a custom to leave America
every autumn and return every follow
ing spring. Persons in that class, prin-
cipally Italians, have found II impossible
to return during the war years and,
fourfold richer than ever before, they
are sailing early this year. However.
even in this class are many who will not
return for three or four years at least.
Then there are those who want to see
what damage war has done to their
home countries and 10 gather together
what remains of their families. In this
class is included those men who were
reservists in the armies of their father
land, but who were unable to respond TO
the call of their sovereign because of
lack of transportation. Nothing ex-
cuses these men from military duty and
they are going back to clear themselves
Of official displeasure in order that they
may not be regarded as fugitives.
The third class are those who. like
the great majority of south Europeans,
came to America TO make their fortunes
that they might spend their later years
IN ease in their native villages The
high wages Of the war years made the
desired fortunes quick of attainment ana
these men are returning years before
they would have gone had times been
normal.
1t is estimated that each applicant
represented an average bankroll OF
$4,000. This amount ten years ago
would have been sufficient to maintain
peasant family for the rest OF their nat
ural lives. The enormous increase in
prices even in the old countries makes
this simple retirement impossible to-day.
Therefore It is figured that many OF the
emigrants will seek readmission TO the
United States within the next five years.
Can Take No Gold or silver.
With the exception of comparative
few the applicants have made their
money in the American shipyards and
munitions plants Virtually none OF
them saw service in either the navy
or the army None is permitted to
take gold, or silver, either IN CONS
metal or certificates. Furthermore,
none may take with him more than
$1,000, and that in letters OF credit,
bank books and bonds of certain kinds.
Almost all of the applicants said that
their savings would be invested in farms
or small shops. The crowd was handled
with incredible speed and excellent eff
ficiency. No applicant received the
coveted pass until he had assured the
clerks that his income taxes have been
paid and that he carried neither contra
band notes nor coin.
Two men recently released from
enemy alien prisons were among those
applying yesterday. Both had pass
ports signed by the Swiss Minister and
approved by the State Department. II
was declared that very few northern
Europeans are seeking TO return home
That such an exodus of labor will
affect economic conditions In America
seriously is not considered probable by
the emigration officials They say that
although the applicants declare now
that they will not return conditions or
the other side Of the Atlantic will change
their minds. Each applicant is told
before leaving Just how much money
he must have II he presents himself
for readmssion 10 the States.