San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-10
OFFICIAL Says
RAT Holes I'm
BORDER CLOSED
Assistant Secretary Of La
Dor Visits Rio
Grande.
SAYS JOB A HARD ONE
Increase in Heaatax Shows
| Aliens Coming in
Legally Now.

-Nii'h7fihuSsiHS dNtiNltlc> are great
err along the southern coastlinc aud
border of the United States than ON
any other front, according to T.. }.
Hcnning, assistant Secretary of Labo;
on his return TO San Antonio from
the Mexican border. Monday. Not
withstanding the fact that the San
Antonio district is confronted with
problems unknown in other districts.
the administration by Captain W. NJ.
Hanson. district director of immisra-
ticn, has resulted in Tie stopping up
Of practically all "ratholcs,' Mr..
Henning said.
That the line between the United
States and Mexico is new being guard
cd with greater vigilance is indicated
by the fact that in 132ll9o2, There
were total of 10000 aliens who en-
tered the United States from McKee,
through regular ports of entry. In
1922-1923, there were 63,000 aliens
" no came from Mexico through regu.
lar ports of entry, yet, Mr.. HenniDg
continued, every one kcows that there
were more aliens who came from
June. 1922 than there were during
tho fiscal year ending IN June. 1923.
AT the close of Captain Hsnsons
first quarter in office Mr.. Henning
said. the head-tax receipts increased
from $4,000 to $4,000. which indi-
Gates that Mexican Aliens who would
ordinarily have waded across the Rio
Crande and evaded payment Of the
kcadtax, have hen forced TO z,
through regular ports OF entry where
they would be subjected 10 inspec-
| ton
Hanson Is Sick.
Captain W. NJ. Hanson. who ac
companied Mr.. Hennins to the border
last week. was unable to return to
San Antonio Monday. Captain Hat
son is reported to be seriously i'll in
Brownsville and unable to leave his
bed.
While on the border. Mr.. Henning
established a precedent for high Wash
ington officials. In company with
Captain Hanson, Roy Campbell, cot
lector Of customs, and other customs
and immigration officers, be patro!lcd
the river in order that he might have
| first-hand knowledge Of the problems
encountered by the officers.
'"The San Antonio district is unique
| in this respect" Mr.. Henning said
"You have a long stretch of border
Undiscovered and adjacent to a coun'
try in which there are no stringent
| immigration laws as there are in Can
ada. Along the Florida Coast and the
Gulf states where smuggling must be
corducted by water. The illegal opcr-
atoms can not be carried on at any
hour of the day or night as they can
be in the San Antonio district. To Che
west Of the San Antonio district lies
more or less open country"
The peculiar conditions in this dis
trict. Mr.. Henning said, calls for thc
services of a man who IL not content
10 sit in swivel-chair and push but
tons. In some districts the man IN
charge of the immigration forces is
necessarily compelled 10 confine him.
self TO office duties, he explained.
Laws Should BE Consistent.
immigration and naturalization
laws should be consistent with each
other. Mr.. Henping asserted in con
nection with discussion of immigra-
ticn restriction legislation row pend
ing in Congress. II Is problematical.
he said. which OF the "a bills now
pending. will be enacted into law.
"Under the naturalization laws
only aliens who are of the white
race or of African parentasr can take
out naturalization papers. Although
Chinese and japanese immigration j.
barred. vet the children Of Chinese or
Japanese parentage born in the mtea
States can become citizens. although
those who are not born IN this country
can not become American citizens
Statistics compiled by the Depart-
lment OF labor. Mr.. Henning said, in
dictate that the last year. from the
standpoint Of employment has been
prosperous. Prospects Of the coming
presidential camraign. he said. has NOT
affected the industrial conditions If
the country as is ordinarily the case,
he believes
Always Have Unemployed.
"No matter how badly men arc
needed there are always at least L.
600 600 unemployed in this country
at any ono time" he said. This iS
chiefly due 10 the demands Of sea-
sCnoI occnpation. At one time Of the
wear. one section Of the country needs
imorc men that it can obtain. After
The seasonal occupation period is over
tbe men who have flocl;ed there are
without work and must either 20 10
lother fields or remain IL idleneSs I'M
ltil their season OF employment arrives
again"
When asked about ihe reported re'
lturn of negroes to the South. Mr.,
iHcnning said that the reports he had
Ibeen receiving indicated that the ne
groes. who flOclled TO the North FOR
lbetter wages after war. are with inc
lexception of those who have Displayed
unusual adaptabilitv and capacity ii
"deliver the goods IN an Nerretlc
matter. arc returning II tlc Southern
Estates. He has heard several com
InIaints from labor agents he said n
the effect that Mexican labor Is lars"'
lIv sunplarting negro labor, especially
in ra:iroHd work.
Mr.. Henning viii iesve San An
ltonio. Monday evenin~. TO continue ms
general inspection Of tho various
In, onrhcs of the DAnsItment OF Labor.