Evening star., 1921-04-23
DIR. BELL |NCENSED
OVER DETENTION
Complains to State Depart
ment Over Treatment by
immigration Inspector.

Incensed over his treatment by a
United States immigration officer
which resulted in his wife, his secre-
himself spending Tuesday night in
the immigration detention building
in Vanceboro, Me, DR.. Alexander Gra-
ham Bell. inventor of the telephone, is
in Washington today to make a COM
plant to the State Department.
He expected to see Secretary of
State Hughes this morning. He said
he had decided to take the matter up
first with the State Department be-
cause he felt international unfriendli-
ness was being developed by the
methods Of the immigration official
with whom he had had the encounter.
to the Department of Labor also.
Secretary n Canadian.
DR.. Bells secretary is Canadian.
The detention order was issued
against her only, and, according to
the scientist, was animated by spite
on the part Of the immigration agent.
When protests were unavailing DR..
and Mrs. Bell voluntarily left the
train and spent the night with Miss
Mackenzie in the Vanceboro detention
house. Next morning they returned
had been appealed to and the diff
Guilty was quickly adjusted. The party
then resumed its journey, arriving in
Washington yesterday.
Drs Bell said he had been told by
many Canadians that the actions of
the American inspector were helping
to create an unfriendly feeling on the
nd hot ha hn Cfof To
should know this. Miss
difficulty, he said, grew
out of an encounter with the inspector
last September, when he threatened
to get her" if she came back.
On that occasion, it was explained.
on their way to Boston. where the
former expected to take steamer for
Europe. The inspector demanded a
head tax from each of them, as 'alien
Mrs. Mackenzie pro-
tested the classification. explaining
she was coming to the United States
to visit friends for few months and
in no sense was entering the country
as a wage Garner. The officer. it is
charged, became impertinent and
threatened to put her of the train.
She then paid the tax.
Inspector Makes Threat.
Dr. and Mrs. Bell were members of
the party on that occasion and when
the officer attempted to collect a head
tax from Miss Mackenzie she appeal
ed to Dr. Bell. On DR.. Bells protest
the officer finally waived the tax on
the ground that Miss Mackenzie was
passing through the states en- route
to England But. as the inspector
left the car. he is alleged to have
Wen get her when she
comes back"
The sequel to last September's oc-
rurence came Tuesday night. when
DR.. and Mrs Bell, accompanied by
Miss Mackenzie, were travelling from
their home in Nova Scotia to Wash
ngton An immigration agent board
I'd the train and asked for their ere
lentials Apparently. he was satis
fed with them.
Subsequently, according to informa-
tion DR.. Bell has. this agent reported
to his chief that he had just passed
DR.. Bells party in the drawing room:
The "chief' was the same official
they had encountered on the Septem
Der trip. He asked if DR.. Bells secre-
.ary was along. The subordinate did
not know. SO the 'chief" went in per-
son to find out.
sleefully. as he saw Miss Mackenzie
n the drawing room. We've caught
you at last I've been waiting long
time to collect that head tax of
,ourS.".
The officer then asked for Miss
passport. He is alleged |
o have returned it, with the remark: |
Strictly speaking, this should be |
,iSed, but. under the circumstances, |
Is we know who you are and you Dr |
selD vouch for her. we will let it CO."
Head Tax Demanded.
DR.. Bell protested the payment of |
head tax and the officer left, saying
le would see them again. Later, it is |
tated, the subordinate. accompanied |
~ the c. P. r. trainman, who is |
'equired to give the ''alien" a re-
.eipt showing payment of the head
ak. came in and announced he was
authorized to collect 1920 in Cana
lian currency as head tax from Miss |
The tax was then paid
lnder protest.
But the troubles of the travellers did |
lot end here. The subordinate is said |
o have returned later and announced
hat he was authorized to refund the
ak just collected. Whereupon. DR.. |
Bell declined to accept a refund and
served notice that he was going to
,ave the matter sifted to the bottom
When he reached Washington.
The subordinate, according to the
Continual ON Page 2-COlumn IL