Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-07
SAYS CAM|NETT|
DELAYED ACTION
|NDEPORTAT|0NS
Post Declares Commissioner
Compiled "UniawfuI
Memoranda"

committee today to defend his official
F. Post. assistant secretary of the
Labor Department., charged that An
thony Caminetti. commissioner gen.
eral OF immigration. had delayed ac-
ton in deportations by Withholding
cases so he might compile IAN un-
authorized and unlawful memoranda"
recommending final action.
Mr.. Post declared that last March
he changed the custom that had
grown up in the department of per-
mittlng Mr.. Caminetti to make recon-
mendations. and went direct to the
record to make the final decision him
self. This. he argued, was the only
legally authorized procedure.
AT the time of the change, Mr.. Post
said. scores and scores and scores of
cases had piled up in the immigration
bureau, with the result that many
aliens were being held in jail for
months.
Ihe change was not made until po-
ntical offenders were arrested" replied
Chairman Campbell.
Il understand your imputation," an
swered Mr.. Post. adding that he had
always acted directly on the evidence
and not upon the commissioner gen.
eraFS recommendation.
Mr.. Post said that the House immi-
grafton committee showed only a
slight idea of deportation proceedings
by its report in deportation cases.
had Cancelled hundreds of warrants
for deportation recommended by
Commissioner General of Immigra-
tion Caminetti and immigration in
| spectors.
Denies Caminettrs Authority.
| Mr.. Post said that the Secretary Of
Labor alone was authorized by law to
| issue warrants for deportation. and
also was the sole judge in ordering
| mittee, Mr.. Post added, assumed
| throughout its report that Mr.. Cami-
| nette had power to recommend de-
| portations.
Mr. Post said that he had found a
variance between the evidence and Mr..
Caminetti's memoranda, and he de-
clared that the immigration commit
| tee had accepted the memoranda and
compiled misleading" report. Can
cellations of deportation warrants were
defined by Mr.. Post as "a verdict for
| the defendant"
Charges Reporters Were Influenced.
Newspapers. Mr.. Post charged. had
| not correctly informed the country of
Mr.. Posts actions, declaring that out
side salaries paid to reporters caused
| them to make unfair statements Un-
der questioning by Chairman Campbell
the assistant secretary said he could
mot prove single case" Of reporters
being Influenced in their articles re-
gardfng Mr. Post.
| Mr.. Campbell said he was ignorant
of reporters having outside sources OF
revenue. but Mr.. Post said he thought
| 1t was common knowledge.
Raises Question Of Jurfsdictfon.
Department of Justice agents have
no legal right to examine aliens held
| for deportation. Mr.. Post said, as that
right is granted by law only to i'm
| migration inspectors.
Referring to the red" raids con-
Quoted by the Department Of Justice.
which have resulted in 5000 arrests
! since last fall, the assistant secretary
testified that the only weapons found
by the department agents were three
| revolvers. Only forty of the aliens
who have been given a hearing, he
said. testified that they favored use
of violence in bringing about a
| change Of government.
Explains Truss Case.
Mr.. Post entered into long review
Of the evidence in the case Of Thorn
as Truss of Baltimore. an alien ar
rested as a member Of the communist
party, whose deportation warrant was
cancelled by the assistant secretary.
He declared the evidence showed that
Truss was a socialist and was among
those who quit that party because of a
dispute among the members.
Before forEaal organization Of the
communist party, Truss, Mr.. Post said,
agreed to join 1t. but later withdrew
the agreement after reading the party
charter.
The assistant secretary explained
that he reviewed Truss case at length
because his action in. it had been free
ly criticised. He added that this case
was typical Of those in which he had
Cancelled deportation warrants.
The committee adjourned for the
day before the witness had complete
his statement. and he VIII be heard
again tomorrow.