Evening star., 1923-06-22
RESENTS CRITICISM
Of ELLIS ISLAND.
British Attack on Methods
Brings Suggestion From
/ Commissioner Husband.

Legal opinion was sought yester-
day by Commissioner General of I'M
migration Husband as to whether
steamship companies could be re-
quired under existing law to bear
the entire expense of OBTAINING aliens
at immigration stations Mr.. Hus-
bands move was spurred by the at
tack in the British house of COM
mons Wednesday on methods at Ellis
Island in handling British born in:-
migrants.
The action of the commissioner
general added another chapter to the
controversy involving protests from
some British authorities over the
treatment their nationals received
from American immigration officials.
An inspection of Ellis. Island was
made last winter by Sir Auckland
Geddes. the British ambasse dor. and
his report, which has never been
made public, is said by officials here
VINO have seen it in the British
Wh1te Book, to have been favorable
rather than otherwise.
Difficulties Recognized.
Conditions at Ellis Island leave
much to be desired. Mr.. Husband ad-
mitted, and it was understood that
fhe Geddes report re ecognized the diff
Nculties in the way OF the America n
government in its efforts to correct
Them. The Outburst in parliament
on W Nednesday. therefore, it was de-
.-fred, caused surprise among Amer
lean officials
MI Husband outlined the situation
10 Kobe Carl White, acting secre-
sary or laLor. in the following mem
anounl, .d n, I'M which was at once forward
Su 70 the departments solicitor:
II is estimated that the I-nited
states government has expended a
h,i1d; totdd or approximately 100000 in
and sndliolns and equipping Ellis Island
ana except for the fact that the sta
tioh Is used in part for administra
tlon purposes. and that a limited
number OF aliens taken on depart
me mental warrants are detained there
me entire plant is operated solely for
Ine benent of transportation com
panles which bring aliens to the Unit
vart,Sa ee states purely as a commercial
hin'uee, this go,an ane only financial return to
onis government being the actual
cost of meals and, since February
1922. an additional charge of twenty.
nNe cents per day.
Returns Not Equal to Cost.
1T is very clear that such returns
40 40 not nearly cover. the cost of de-
talnlnS the aliens in question, and
II has been estimated that the loss
70 the government at Ellis island
alone IS aprpoximatel 100000 an
stations approximately $1,000 600 an
nually. In computing this total we
nave taken into account the cost and
upkeep OF plants the cost of guard
ing aliens, and of all service which
would be necessary, provided trans
portation companies We're required 10
be entirely responsible for aliens
pending their admission or return.
In view of the foregoing the bureau
feels that it is in effect being criti-
cized for the character of a service
which is furnished in large part as a
gratuity to the transportation COM
panies. and it is quite inclined to feel
that the excess detention costs re-
ferred to are an unwarranted expense
to this government. In view of this
l would be glad If the whole question
could be submitted to the solicitor as
to the rights and responsibilities of
the government in requiring the
transportation companies involved to
bear the entire expense of OBTAINING
aliens at all immigration ports. the
cost to this government being limited
to the actual expense of administra-
tion and examination of aliens"