New-York tribune., 1922-04-04
Four U. S. Inspectors at
Ellis Island and Barber
Are the First Accused i'm
Sweeping investigation
Say Bribes Reach
Sl,5O0 a Day
$25 TO $50 Is Paid by
Aliens to Enter the
Country, 1t Is Declared

Details of system Of graft invoiv-
'ng the Illegal admission OF immi-
grants over q period of year and so
apparently widespread as TO cause gov
eTnment officials to believe that onl; .
few Oh the offenders have been found
cut became public yesterday with the
handing up TO Federal Judge Mack OF
indictments against four immipration
inspectors and one outsider. They arc
charged variously with accepting
bribes in order TO pass aliens into the
country, conspiracy for the same pur-
pose, alteration OF government records
and admitting aliens in defiance Of law.
Those named in the Indictment re-
turned by the United States grand Jury
arc William Alexander, William Leon
ard, John Donovan and Jeremiah Fitz-
gerald, all government inspectors under
the jurisdiction Of The Commissioner
OF Immigration at Ellis Island, Who
since the Investigation instituted by
Commissioner Robert Z. Tod several
weeks ago, either have been suspended
from duty, dismissed or have resigned
ana Tobias Levy, barber charged with
obtaining the unlawful admission Of
relative suffering from contagious
disease. Bench warrants for the arrest
OF al five we're issued Immediately
following the filing Of the indictments
Gait Ring Is Widespread
- According to Samson Selig, assistant
united states attorney who prepared
tho case based on tho evidence un-
carthed by Commissioner Tod, part
OF whicn was embraced in an account
published in The Tribune threo weeks
ago, the Investigation thus Far has
only scratched the surface OF a con-
dltion which the Commissioner Of I'M
migration and his assistants are de-
termlned to stamp out. The graft
ring is known to involve landing
agents Of steamship companies, who
arc said in numerous instances TO have
connivcd with certain inspectors TO
BRING about the admig5ion OF aliens for
fees ranging from s25 to $3.50 n per.
son, nd, in cases where the aliens in
question would have been regularly nd-
nltted anyway, to havs extorteG money
from them on the pretense that their
papers mad been Improperly drawn.
Working with the inspectors werc.
= 'ANOo I'o lNAlO44-E agents. LclAtiNtS o.
aliens arriving on incoming liners and
In some cases ticket agents
"Our evidence shows that in a single
day the graft has run anywhere from
SIS to $500" said Mr., Sclig. "In all
Of these cases in which Indictments
have been drawn the evidence has been
obtained by Mr.. Tod through examna-
ton Of manifcsts and other government
records extending for year back.
The results show in u remarkable way
to what extent the graft has -four
ishcd. The Investigation BY no means
has been completed. We believe there
viii be many more indictments Thus
ar,none OF the landing agents or others
believed TO be Implicated in the con-
spiracy have been invcstigated.r
There have been hints Of graft in
connection with the admission Of aliens
through Ellis Island and local steam
ship piors for two years back. During
the administration OF Commissioner
Wallis, who preceded Mr.. Tod as Imnli-
grafton Commissioner here, there were
virtual admissions that the graft ex-
listed. Just what measures we're taken
to cope with the situation revealed in
the evidence submitted to the Grand
jury recently by Mr.. Tod and Mr.. Sclig
was not disclosed. So far as known the
j y
definite step toward the elimination Of
this condition.
Simple to Gain Admission
It vas simple matter to obtain the
admission Of relative II one "stood
in" with landing agent, an inspector
or ticket agent, it is declared. Neces-
sarJ to this delicate contact was q fee,
large or small, depending on the finan-
'ial ability Of the persons wanting to
expedite the entry Of a relative from,
overseas. IN same instances the "bar-
gain was sealed III sociable way, via
q glass of beer or other spirituous
drink obtainablc by thirsty government
inspectors only in the steerage COM
oartmcnt Of 8 steamship.
One man who sought the admission
Of fourteen relatives due on a certain
liner paid $40 q head to the Inspector
and landing agent, who did the Job with
celerity. Sometimes the landing agent
would offer TO land the alien relative
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