The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
ELLIS ISLAND IS
/. CHOKED AS FOLK
RUSH TO AMERICA


NEW YORK, Oct. 15.-Ellis Island.
melting pot of the world. Is boiling
as never before, with the greatest
flood of immigrants in history pour
ing into 1t. Millions more are clam
oring at Europe's exits, anxious to
come to America and congress will
be pressed to quickly enlarge both
the physical plant and working force
on the island to more than double its
present size, according to lmmigra-
ton Commissioner Frederick A. Wal
lis.
Since early last summer, aliens
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-
cerned. Recently, hundreds Of i'm
migrants detained for INVESTIGATION
had to sleep standing up, as the
floors, benches and chairs already
were filled with the backwash from
the congested dormitories,
The tide is certain to become
greater with each passing month,
Commissioner Wallis felt assured.
Steamship operators informed him
their accommodations are booked to
capacity for IL months. Government
officials announced 267000 applica-
lions had been made for passports
in Poland alone, mostly by Jews,
while hundreds of thousands in other
parts of Europe also were anxious to
cross the seas to this country.
Between 100000 and 100000
Italians are seeking domiciles and
citizenship here and more than 3,oOO, :
600 Poles want to come over, sald
OF 6d
the exodus from Europe to the harsh
postwar living conditions and the
economic situation.
Frequently the commissioner asked
the aliens why they left Europe Most
of them replied mo money no eat,
he said. Many Italian farmers de-
clared they quit their native soil be-
cause of the danger from explosions
when blowing in former battle fields.
Added to the prospective influx OF
immigrants from Ahe 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 official
sources.
"The immigration in the future
will be limited only by the capacity
" d"
said. s,g, III. -,
In the meantime while wondering
how many years it will be before
aliens quit coming across the sea at
their present rate. Ellis Island work
ers are perplexed over their existing
ppoblems, The normal capacity OF
the island is reached when 1000 i'm
migrants are inspected daily. Yet, on
a recent day, 10000 aliens were fed
there, During another day the same
week 1900 persons were detained IN
the holds of the vessels which
brought them over, while OFFICIALS
struggled with the work or examln :
ing the 1000 then on the island. FoI
two days the island doors were smut
against incomers, who renamed on
boats.
The rapidity of handling them de-
pends upon the aliens themselves
Commissioner Wallis has found that
some groups are easier to examine
than other, while care must be taken
in separating the many natlonalltles
which make the island conversation
sound like that at the Tower OF Bapel
Three recent additions to the tasks
of the immigration officials have
made more tedious the handling OF
the aliens. Much time is required IT
viseing passports and the literary
test which all immigrants must pass
also causes trouble. Each alien mus
read in one language before peihe
admitted. In addition to its lapors
with the aliens, the immigration Of
ficials examine every seaman en EN-. :,
ing the port, even though he left /,
but a few days before. In the last
eight months 100000 seamen were
examined here.
Despite congestion everything pos
sible is being done to make the treat.
ment of the aliens on the 1slano
humane. Babies are given warn
milk and crackers. Candy, cigarets
fruit and other comforts are fur
nished adults Sunday concerts, witt
bands, grand opera stars and others
on the program, are held weekly. fol
those who can not find bed, 10,O0t
army blankets recently received
from Washington are available fol
improvised sleeping equipment.
Ellis Island authorities are trylns
not TO keep the aliens in the holds
of the vessels after arrival and are
striving not to delay commerce by
holding up ships in that manner ant
50 far they have succeeded. But, M
matter how fast the immigrants ar
rive. the examinations will not be
less rigid. but will continually bt
made more severe, Commissioner
Wallis said.
Aliens who are refused admittanc'
and the percentage of rejected ones
has increased greatly since before
the WARFARE returned to the por
from which they came at the expense
of the steamships. Most of those ad
mitted to America are going to In
dustfial centers but many are flock
ing to rural districts and farms, thu
commissioner said.
T.AROp To CONFER.