Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-06
ELLIS ISLAND HEAD
TELLS SENATE RUSH
OF ALIENS is NEAR
Commissioner Wallis Says
Europe Is Literally Nov
ing to America.
URGES RIGID INSPECTION
FOR DISEASE AND INSANITY
Would Rather Bar 1000 Than
Admit One Bomb
Thrower.
GLAD OF SHIP SHORTAGE
Declares 1900, 900 "a Year Is Limit
Under Present Transporta-
tion Facilities.
URGES RIGID INSPECTION
FOR DISEASE AND INSANITY
GLAD OF SHIP SHORTAGE
Declares 300, 900 "A Year Is Limit
Under Present Transporta-
ton Facilities.
tBy Associated Press !

By Associated frcsS.
WASiiiNGTOE. Jan. b.-Tcs;imony
" Commissioner Wallis. OF the ELLIS
Island immigration station. that
Europe is Literally moving to tho
United States" and tina; n ''Aood ot
aliens was Imminent" sim loft m.m-
bers OF the Senate Immigration Com
mi,,ee doubtful tonight as TO action
upon the Johnson bIll prohibiting i'm
migration for one year. Several
members frankly expressed doub,
whether any measures to stop or re-
strict immigration would he enacted
at this session OF Congress.
The committee obviously was i'm
pressed with Commissioner Wallis
statements as to the need FOR IN
! fpcc.ion OF aliens before leaving
| Europe and FOR more rigid eNamina-
tions atte. their arrival at American
ports
. The commissioner recommended
particularly that facilities be csiab-
iished overseas for such inspections
and declares that 80 per cent o! Tn"
mni < rants arriving under the cT-
sting system would bc denied per
mission to sail if thry were examined
a, tho ports OF cmoarhatlom by Amcri-
can officials. \ proper sys;cm OF cx-
amlna ton In Europe and upon ar
rival sir. Wallis said. would prevent
an imminent hood OF these. discased
in body and mind.
I.:;HO.OJn Ienriy Limh.
l"rortunatcly" he added" the stcam-
hips of the world can bring only
100000 = year to ;Nc Emitted states.
81; is In the l.u.ie transportation
| facilities and Increased examinations
rha; ~. Will get the best protcciion'
The commissioner declared reports
of the public health scsv.cc indicated
,ha, Eastern Europe today rs IN the
grin OF four "pidemics ty-
phold. dyscntery and tuberculosis.
The war has undermined the health
O., those countries and their cm
grants are dangerous To the public
health OF the United states he
added
81 MIR wallis reminded the committee
"tha, not q mothers son who went
10 war in Europe was allowed 10 re-
urn To his home until he had taken
q bath in strongest disinfcctants and
his clothes had been cleansci
,noroughly." "yet. these people come
here unclcanscd and diseased" he
added. "Ono of the greatest troubles
we have at Ellis Island Is getting rid
|of their vermin. 1t should be done
3before they arrive"
we are there TO protect tho gate
way of the nation" Mr. Wallis said
ls,and station. Il had rather turn
back a thousand good people than
ct ono in who would blow up Waf
street. we must he careful. and that
,auscs congestion on the island"
Chairman Colt OF the committee
asked whether it would be harmful
Congress postponed changing pres
mt laws for six months. 1T would
rot he more harmful than AT pres
ent," Mr. Wallis replied. But |
would prefer Il definite measure Civ
ns us more inspectors. living quar-
crs and increased facilities over
seas"
want Drastic Changes.
Drastic changes in the naturaliza-
ion law, especially as applying to
women, are provided in bill re-
ported favorably today by the House
immigration committee. The measure
viii take the place of two naturaliza-
ion bills on the House calendar, and
IN effort will be made according to
representative Johnson, of Washing
en- chairman of the committee. to
ave Congress approve it at this ses-
ion.
n.
would derive citizenship from the
aura lization of husban nds hut would
,c required to make individual appli-
ations for citizenship. They also
could not lose their American ciu-
enship by marrying aliens. cxccp,
there an alien husband cannot law
ulIy become an American citizen, or
there a woman leaves tho United
tatos and resides two years In, her
usband's country, or five years i'm
ONE other country.
once cNpatriatcd a woman dcsir.
ng to regain Amcican citizenshi,
t'ould be required to follow the same
Procedure as any other alien desir.
'ng American citizenship. Women
liens also under the bin would no
ynger automatically become citizens
N marrying Americans, but would bo
equired to make application Cor citi-
enship after a five years residence
This country.
Children OF naturalized parents un-
er the measure no longer would de-
i've citizenship automatically.
The bill would require an appli.
'i,ts for citizenship to demonstrate
icir ability to read as well as TO
peak English as at present Tho
rovision would become effective ono
BAR aftor enactment Of tho bill.