The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1920-11-04
GREAT INFLUX
Of FOREIGN
B'B0IRI IHiIGC0(INijNG

~ uOvor UVtOrcs WIN Su0 8roat0ot
flood OF immigrants In history pour
Ing into Il. Millions more are clam
oring at Europe's exit. anxious ia
come to America and congress will
b pressed TO quickly enlarge both
the physical plant and working force
on the island to more than double
it, present size. according to lmmi-
grafton Commissioner Frederick A.
Wallis.
Since carly last summer. Alions
have been entering Americas front
door In unprecedented numbers. The
problem Of housing them until they
can be admitted to the country has
become painful to all parties con-
ccrned. Recently, hundreds OF immi-
grants detained for investigation had
to sleep standing up, As the floors.
benches and chairs already were fill-
Cd with the backwash from tho con-
gested dormitories,
The tide IL certain to become great
er with each passing month. Com
missioner Wallis felt assured. Steam
ship OPERATOR informed him their
accommo odations are booked TO ca
pacity for 3 months ahead. Govern.
nent officials announced 367.0 900 ap-
plications had been made for pass.
ports In Poland alone. mostly Jews.
while hundreds OF thousands In other
parts Of Europe also were anxious
to cross the seas to this country.
Between 5000. 900 and 1000. 900
Italians arc seeking domiciies and
eitisenship here and more than g.
100000 Poles want to come over" >"
said Commissioner Wallis. who attri-
buted the exodus from Europe to the
harsh postwar living conditions and
the economic situation.
Frequently the commissioner ask
ed the aliens why they left Europe.
Most OF them replying mo money. no
eat." he said. Many Italians farmers
declared they quit their native soil
because OF the danger from expios-
ions when plowins In former battle
grounds.
Added to the prospective influx OF
immigrants from the countries OF the
war allies. will be millions In from
Germany who. as soon as the way Is
clear. will seek passage to America.
the immigration authorities have
been informed by reliable and off,
cial sources.
THE Immigration IN the futurc
will be limited only by the capacity
OF the vessels" Commissioner Wal
liz said.
II the meantime while wondering
how many years II will be before
aliens quit coming across the sea at
their present rate. Ellis Island work
ers are perplexed over their existing
problems. The normal capacity Of
the island ID reached when 5000 i'm
migrants are inspected daily. Yet. on
. recent day. l0.l00 aliens were fed
there. During another day the same
week 1900 persons vers detained
IN the holds Of the vessels which
brought them over. while officials
struggled with the work OF examin.
ing the 1000 then on the island. For
two aays the Island doors were shut
against ineomsrs. who remained on
beats.
TIE rapidity Of handing them de-
psnds upoa the aliens themselves.
CommissioaeP wallis has found that
some groups are sasisr 70 examine
than others. while care must bs tax
On In separating the many nation.
alities which make the Island conver-
sation sound like that at the Tower
Of Babel.
If we mix English. Irish and
Jews there will be q free-for-aii fight
In ten minutes" said the commits
sioner. THE English won't eat with
the Jews, and call them foreign
ers.'"
Three recent additions to the
tasks Of the immigration officials
have made more tedious the hand
ling OF the aliens. Much time Is
required In viseing passports and the
literary test which all immigrants
must pass. also causes trouble. Each
allen must read Ia one language be-
fore being admitted. In addition to
Its labors with the aliens, the immi-
gration officials examine every sea-
man entering the port. even though
he left II but few days. before. In
the last eight months 500, 900 sea-
men were examined here.
Despite congestion everything pos
sible Is being done to make the treat
ment OF the aliens on the island hu-
name. Babies are given warm milk
and crackers. Candy. cigarettes. fruit
and other comforts are furnished |
adults. Sunday concerts, with bands. |
grand opera starr and others on the
program. are held weekly. For those
Who cannot find q bed. 10000 army
blankets recently received from
Washington are available for impro-
vised sleeping equipment.
11lis Island authorities are tSyinS|
not TO keep the aliens In the holds
4 tAs vessels after arrival and are
'triving not to delay commerce by
aolding up ships In that manner and
70 far they have succeeded. But, no
nAftAp h0w fast tha I'm mi gra uts a.