Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-18
IMMIGRANTS ARE
TREATEDFAIRLY
Secretary Of Labor Davis ieus o''
Auckland Geddes of Working oil
Ellis Island.
(Bv ISAAC GREGG)

(Bv ISAAC GREGG)
Washington, Dec. 1s-Followlng an
Interpolation in the House of Com
mons, charging that British eitlzens
were subjected to indignities and IN
sanitary treatment at American ports
Sir Auckland Geddes the British Am
bassador, conferred with Secretary
Of Labor James j. Davis, at the De-
partment of Labor Saturday after
noon and discussed at length the re-
ported DEFICIENCIES in the present I'M
migration conditions at Ellis Island,
as they effect British subjects. The
visit Of the British Ambassador IS
without precedent, according to ofl-
Gals at the Labor Department.
Secretary Davis is understood TO
have told Sir Auckland during the
conference which lasted for more than
half an hour that immigrants at FL
lis Island are accorded better treat
meut than that given to Immigrants
in any other port in the world. The
British Ambassador was also told, II
is understood, that various welfare
organizations cooperating with I'M
migration officials are according every
facility and comfort while Immigrants
are awaiting their entry to this coun-
try.
Inasmuch as these organizations
have investigated various charges
which have arisen from time to time
concerning conditions at Ellis Is
land. officials of the Department OF
Labor say the Investigations have
shown the charges to be a species of
organized propaganda and the officials
are inclined to believe that they are
designed to bring about the lifting OF
three per cent immigration restrlc-
tions imposed under laws passed by
Congress.
In response to Ambassador Geddes
plea for ameloriation of conditions for
British subjects entering the United
States at Ellis Island, Secretary of
Labor Davis read to Sir Auckland .
letter which he har just written to
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon, re-
ouesting that he Supervising Archi-
tect of the Treasury Department be
directed to confer with Commissioner
Tod, at Ellis Island, with view to
rebuilding the Ellis Island station so
that the different races may be seq
regated.
Ii was stated in explanation of the
action of Secretary Davis that there
has been considerable complaint
from different sources owing to the
fact that races intermingle IN COM
ing into the American immigration
port. This has been particularly true
with respect to Jewish immigrants,
it being claimed that the Jews need
privacy because they have certain re-
ligious rites to perform and object
to carrying them out in the presence
OF members of other races. This ap-
plies with especial force, it was stat
ed. to Jewish holidays and feast days,
with which members of other races
are not in sympathy.
Secretary Davis expects Secretary
Mellon to agree to the suggestion of
segregation without difficulty.
"The American people are not go
ing to stand for another coal strike"
This was the warning sounded by
John Hays Hammond, chairman of
President Harding's Fact Finding
Coal Commission in discussing Satur-
day afternoon the conferences which
the Commission held last week with
certain groups of operators and rep
resentatives of the United Mine
Workers.
The Commission, Chairman Ham
mond said. is extremely anxious to
fix q satisfactory wage scale at their
meeting in Chicago January 3, with
the soft coal operators and the Com
mission is exerting every moral in
fiuence in order to come to a salts
factory agreement. The present con-
trac between the bituminous opera
tors and miners expires on April l
of next year and unless a new con-
tract is negotiated, strike is inevi-
table.
The administration is bending every
effort 70 avert such a catastrophe. and
if the two contending groups fail to
reach an amicable understanding, the
government, unquestionably, will take
drastic steps to prevent the American
people from being menaced by ar
other tie-up of the bituminous mines.
"While the Commission has no pow
err to intervene between the miners
and operators or between the opera
tors. wholesalers, rtailrs and con-
suners." said Chairman Hammond, 1T
is nevertheless, gathering important
information that will have a direct
bearing on everv phase OF the coal
industry and will be the means. we
hope. Of adjusting many Of the COM
rlieated questions that now confront
the ceal problem"