Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-16
GEDDES OFFERS
SERIES SUGGESTIONS
FOR ELLIS ISLAND

| "A. -
cific recommendations for the improve
ment Of conditions at Ellis Island. the
principal gateway into America for Eu-
ropean emigrants, are contained in a
report to Foreign Secretary Marquis
| Curzon from Sir Auckland Geddes.
British amba ssador to the United
States, made public here today.
The report, drafted by the ambas-
sador following a visit to the island
last week, was issued in the form of a
white parliamentary paper The gen.
eral criticism is that Ellis Island is
too small. that what additional space
is available is useless because it is I'M
ventilated. and that the buildings are
generally in poor state OF repair.
| IF I were asked to advise the re-
| sponsible authorities" he said, IL
should recommend Il things:
| Il. Put the existing buildings into a
| thorough state of repair and alter the
| latrine arrangements
| -. Arrange for these buildings to
| be maintained structurally and to be
kept thoroughly clean.
%. Arrange through structural al
| teration for proper medical examina-
ton rooms.
-. At least furnish. but II possible
replace. the present first class and Sec
| ond class rooms by rooms with VIM
, dows looking to the outside, as the
| third class rooms have.
| IS. If possible through structural
| alteration, improve the ventilation of
the downstairs rooms so they can be
| freely used on the work of handling
the crowds of immigrants.
IS. Do everything to expedite the
handling of the immigrants, especially
in the matter of appeals
-. Provide a new station for GRIM
| inal dcportees prostitutes. reds etc.).
| IS. Provide new station for those
! requiring Kosher food Cor. alternative
| ". let Ellis Island be the Kosher sta
| tions and provide a new station for the
rest.
| 80. Authorize United States consuls
| to refuse Vises to the passports of those
/ obviously prevented by law from enter
ing the United States.
| 10. Arrange. if possible. for all i'm
| migrants to be finally approved or dis
approved in their home lands.
al. Abandon the quaint custom
| of delivering lectures of Americana
cation to criminal and other depor-
| tees. Strangely. this well-meant
| activity seems to be more annoying
| to it's victims than any other single
! detail in the life of Ellis Island.
Brighten up the hospital infer
! iors witt, fresh paint and keep them
even still more scrupulously clean"
Greasy dirt" weeks and perhaps
months old,-was seen by the am
| bassador in many corridors. with the
result that the place was "pervaded
| by fat, stale smell. quite distinct
from the pungent odor of unwashed
humanity.
Sir Auckland thinks the staff got
| used TO this odor. hut he says for
himself that 1T took me thirty-six
hours to get rid of the aroma. which
favored everything 1 ate or drank"
He says the sleeping accommoda-
tons are often unpleasant. but he
found the food good and well cook
ed. although the place could not be
kept clean owing TO the table man.
ners" of some of the guests. He
thinks detention on the Island must
be a hateful experience for all per-
sons of any sensibility. The medical
and board rooms are unsuitable and
inadequate. All the arrangements
for handling admitted immigrants,
however. are efficient and reflect high
credit upon those concerned.
Sir Auckland thinks that the very
heart of the tragedy of Ellis Island"
concerns those temporarily detained.
but says this is nobody's fault and
cannot be avoided unless a plan be
put into effect whereby the immi-
grants could finally he approved for
admission into the United States be-
fore they leave their own lands.
LAS a matter OF fact" he asserts.
what Ellis Island needs. in my
judgement is TO be relieved OF the
presence of about one half of the
people who arc poured into it."