New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-16
Uhl Derlounces
Graft Charges
AT Ellis Island
Report of Half Million Ia
ken From Arrivals Unfair
to Rank and File of His
Staff, Deputy Declares
Frame-Up, Insists Scllell
Suspended Official Blames
Reds, Other Deportees;
Denied Hearing, He Says

Sweeping denia1s of alleged graft on
Ellis Island said to involve 100000
purloined from immigrants were made
yesterday at the local immigration bu-
reau by Byron II. Uhl, Deputy Commits
sioner of immigration, who has been
at the island for nearly twenty years.
Reports of the supposed graft fol-
lowed closely the suspension of Angus
tus P. Schcll, head of the law division
Of the island, who is under charges and
awaiting hearing.
In his behalf Mr.. Schelps attorney,
Alexander I. Rorke, made. statement
yesterday saying that the charges were
general and remote and were the out
come of al ex partc hearing back of
which was frame-up against Schell
because of the cnmity he had aroused
by his strong stand against Socialists.
Soviet agents and others dcportcd for
their anti-govcrnmcn acts and utter
ances.
Says Schcll Was Denied Hearing
"Mr. Schell actually invited this in
vcstigation,' said Mr.. Rorke, "as soon
as the rumors of a plot against him
came to his attention. We have been
informed that representative from
Washington was present at the hear
ing, and that witnesses gave testimony.
Mr.. Schell, however, was not per-
~mitted to be present or to testify.
am informed that some of the wit
nesses against him have criminal rec
ords and others are among those who
had Eeen ordered deported as undesira-
bles. Under the civil service law a
Federal employee may be dismissed
without hearing and without oppor-
tunity to cross-examine his accusers.
He can be dismissed also without the
chance to introduce testimony in his
own behalf.
What we arc most anxious to secure
is an open trial at Ellis Island, so that
we may know who DR.. Schell's accusers
are and who is behind them. Commits
sioner Wallis, who delivered a copy OF
the charges to DR.. Schell, suspended
him without pay and directed him to
reply within five days, was merely act
ing upon instructions from the Depart
ment OF Labor in Washington, a pro-
cedure laid down by the civil service
rules.
"Mr schell, who is past middle age,
has been for twenty years an official
in the government service, and during
the last fourteen years has been sta
toned at Ellis Island. He incurred the
displeasure of MANY of the criminal
radicals of this country by reason of
his participation in the deportation
proceedings against Martens, the al
legged Soviet ambassador; Gregory
Weinstein, Alexander Berkman, Emma
Goldman and others who were de-
ported on the U. S. S. Buford.
"The fact that on recent investiga-
ton made of the departments at Ellis
Island his department was alone sim
gled out. by the Investigators for COM
mendaticn may have created hostile
atmosphere for him at the island.
Graft Not Included in Charges
with reference to the statement in
scme of this mornings newspapers TO
the effect that enormous sums of
money were being extorted from immi-
grants, in justice to Mr.. Schell it
should be said that the charges upon