Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-03-18

NEW YORK. March i5.-lnvcstiga.
,ions made hy Mrs. Helen Basiod0.
iollar aycar federal welfare director at
Ellis Island into the stories ~ immi.
,rants and into conditions at this larg.
81 immigration port in tho country
nave caused her 20 start am open fight
to Dust Immigration Commissioner
frederick a. Wallis. She chirPs
THAT IN 1920 immigrants 20 the
number 81 500. barred as physically
unfit by the Public Health Service,
Ncrr let into the country.
THAT many mentally and physically
ligihl,s were returned.
THAT immigrants. stricken dumb
With fear of deportation, often wait
| weeks and even months M Ellis Island
through the fault NJ careless or neg.
,eciiul officials.
THAT mistakes and neglect caused
The loss" u more THAI 500 affidavi,s,
each one meaning the release Of an
| immigrant.
THAT a total Of $4,000. deposited
temporarily by immigrants while un
isrgoing inspection. has mystcriously
disappeared.
Mrs Rnstedo urges Congressional
Investigation OF conditions at Ellis H.
land.
Il have copies Of hundreds 81 AZ
tidayi,s that will show gross ineft
1lency." she says.
This II what she says about lost
iffidavits
In the detention room found O
slovak woman. crying and hugging hel
iaby. She cringcd with fear. Hci
hip card. signed by an American con
pll ln Europe. the captain Of thcil
hip and several passengers who knew
nor. said the woman's brother was I,
END an affidavit with money for hcl
abroad fare.
Four Months Delay.
Il made the clerks In the railroa,
.uom look through their files. In 1
CIV minutes we found the draft for IA,
money ihc brother had promised.
l,d been sent FOCR MONTHS bcior,
And during all this time this woman
With baby In her arms. had bccl
acld prisoner on the island, with NJ
4
Il found her brothers affidavit pile
With stack 81 500 others. Each on
meant the release II future Amer
,an citizen. Ana they were left I
: lile up. while the immigrants remain
! d prisoners.
4 Il surely jumped IN COMMISSIONS
Wallis aud every other official W
. ran special boards IT inquiry night an
lay. In less than week the Who'll
crowd was OF the island.
"Can you imagine what those pee
,. 20. thought IT American equalit.
d American liberty. American ideals Z
r democracy. and American Justice
O. Charges Robbery.
10 Mrs Enstedo said she rescued al
u ether woman from a guard who hl
j. snatchod t2O bill from her hand I
b. n. was counting her money. The guar
r was discharged.
. Loss ~ money, which immlgrnn
{ are obliged 20 deposit while uuderguii
i lcalth. titcrncy aud Other admittan
- tests b. frequent" Mrs Hisl.du sal
IS Money II often forgotten In thu
"a JOS over prospective freedom, and u
Ia ! situation Is taken ad,antag" a.
Y. Deposits aggrogutiug $4,000 my
ter!ously disappeared last DcCemh
"a md are Eiill unhccOuntcd for.
o. NO check.up H. made 10 scc that
o. deposits have been returned o. {
ightfui owner.
"Our ~ welfare organizations d
merely tolerated un the island"
IN Creates Sensation.
or Mrs. Hastedo's charges have Great
,ct sensation among officials on tho
h, and.
of DR.. William Kerr. head Of tho ~
III. lie Health Service there refuses
~. discuss tho situation.
en These matters are kept Ia the Tile
re he said. II have not heard of ~
a thing
no, Wallis LAYS the blame on lack
I'm cooperation from Congress and fcdc
&c? officials
Get what Mrs. Bastcdo says II ~
ate In large degree" he said. "coi
hat lions here are awful. But we can
ter nothing without money. am h
n iess"
we IAN Enis Island Is waiting for
new administration az Washington