The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1920-10-08
IMMIGRATION
is VERY HEAVY
State Department lnstructs
American Consul to Use
More Care.
ELLIS ISLAND OVERCROWDED
New York Pert Not Sufficiently
Equipped to Handle Great Influx
Of DesirabIes from
Europe.
ELLIS ISLAND OVERCROWDEE

dSnlnStOn.-depOrtS received at
the State Department from the immi-
grafton authorities concerning the class
of immigrants now coming to this
country may result in instructions to
American consuls in Europe to exercise
greater care in sitting out the unde-
sirables from the lists of those apply
ing for permission to come to the
United States.
1t was said that the foreign repre-
sentatives of the State Department had
been able to check materially the at
tempts Of the known radical element
to enter America, but that they had
not been able to pervent a huge in
crease in the number of what is char
acteriZed in the reports from the immi-
grafton officers as economic para
sites.'
Immigra ton authorities have re-
ported to the Department that the
ever-increasing stream of immigration
now moving into the United States car
ries far greater number Of Europes
shiftless element than it did before
the war. Appeals of the immigration
authorities to the department that 1t
assist in clarifying the stream declare
that before the war large part Of
those entering IL United States were
In search of work, but that now the
greater part are those who are at
tempting to escape work in their own
countries.
The congestion Of aliens at Ellis
Island, which began three weeks ago,
reached a climax when the Immigra-
ton Bureau issued an order that no
immigrants would be received from
inbound steamships temporarily.
When the imm:grstio station has a
full equipment O. inspectors the capac-
ity of Ellis Island enables the bureau
to handle a maximum Of 5000 immi-
grants day
Commissioner Wallis is comforting
with the Secretary of Labor on means
of getting relief from the unusually
overcrowded condition of tie island.
Byron H. Uhl, Acting Commissioner,
said:
1--WE were obliged to keep 2,221 de-
tanned aliens on the island recently,
a number far in excess Of our sleeping
accommodations. 1t required recently
thirty-six hours to dispose Of these and
make room for others that were being
held aboard the steamships that
brought them to this country. We sent
inspectors aboard four steamships that
have been in port for several days
without unloading their steerage pas
sengers. These inspectors make their
examinations and admit to the country
all who are eligible to land.
"Those who fail to pass the prelim-
tanned are not sent to the island for
a few days but are kept aboard such
vessels as the steamship lines have in
port. This will, in a measure, take
care Of the congestion at tie island" !"
Many of the detained persons are
women and children, who are eligible
to admission, but who have neither
railroad tickets to destinations nor the
money to purchase them. They are
being held until the relatives to whom
they are going send them funds or
come from various parts Of the coun-
try to escort them to their destina-
tions.
On board the steamship Thomas, a
former transport which was exam
ined, were 800 immigrants, who were
detained as ineligible. 1t was said at
Ellis Island that shortage of money,
rather than physical or moral fitness,
was the chief cause Of the detentions
and general congestion at the island.