San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
IMMIGRATION
AGENTS MUST
GET MORE PAY
Many Experienced Officials
Of Department Hand in
designations.
WILL IMPAIR SERVICE
Laredo Branch Busiest Of
Any Ports Of Entry on
Mexican Border.
WILL IMPAIR SERVICE

LhEtSsU. leNdS, -hdTCU 20. - i uc
immigration department at Laredo is
at this time the busiest branch of
the governmental service. During the
period from July /. 1928. to March
70, 1924, total of 23,1I0 foreigners
were admitted through this port of
entry and careful estimates on the
basis Of the present rate of entry
place the figures for the next three
months in excess of $4,000 more.
According TO an official of the Ma
tional Railway Lines Of Mexico, prep
arations are now being made TO trans
port 10000 laborers to the United
States border. 1t is reported that the
beet sugar companies alone have ask
cd for 10000 lsborers. In addition,
the steel industry and other large
manufacturing establishments are re.
placing Portuguese and other work
men with Mexican labor. A total
OF $40. 400 was collected in head taxes
Tor the entry of 5343 foreigners dur
ing the first 26 days of this month.
At the present rate the receipts for
the entire month will be in excess Of
$4,000, or enough to pay the entire
expense of maintaining this port for
practically two years.
Have Record Day.
Twelve immigrants cross the Rio
Grande into the United States at La
redo TO one at the other ports along
the Mexican border. In Del Rio, when
sixteen immigrants apply for admit
lance, it is considered a good days
work. At this port, on several occa-
sions. over 800 have been admitted.
The banner day occurred recently
when 34S foreigners were admitted.
During the last thirty days. more than
1000 Illegal entrants have been appre-
hended and turned back across the
border. On several occasions the
the same men have been apprc.
: hended twice and forced TO return 10
Mexico.
The working hours of the immigra-
tion and custom officers are long IN
deed, the mounted inspectors espe-
cially, being ofttimes in the saddle ar
car for "a hours, but now the immi
grafton service of the whole country
is threatened with serious impairment
because of the resignation Of a great
number of its most highly trained and
valuable employees.
Department Is Alarmed.
During the last year many resigna-
tons were handed in by the best
qualified inspectors. to accept more
lucrative employment outside the gov
eminent service. These were men.
who during the war and the recon-
struction days Immediately following
it, served their country faithfully in
protecting it from enemies within, as
well as from without. and at salaries
about equal TO those received by track
laborers when the railroads were
under the government control. These
men with years of training in the
work that is becoming more and more
exacting with the perplexing problems
that are arising almost daily, as a
result of the more restrictive immigra-
ton laws. are permitted by the gov-
eminent TO resign because of the III
adequate compensation now allowed.
The department is alarmed over the
threatened situation, because the res
ignation of so many of its most COM
petent men at this time will seriously
ieopardize tine complicated machinery
Of the selective immigration act.
Are Trusted Employees.
The purpose of the immigration law
IL ~ HlOlSIl lut tillNfh t'AHN'o iib'h
the influence Of aliens whose presence
in the country would tend to impair
the citizenship and it is the primary
function Of the immigration officer TO
enforce this law with justice and fair
ness both TO the alien seeking to enter
and to the government. This can be
done only by men who have had long
and thorough training To these men
IN 81 10
Gliding who shall and who shall not
enter this country. These duties and
responsibilities are such, affecting the
future welfare of the country as they
do, that any measure that will i'm
prove the conditions under which
these men perform service will do
much 20 promote efficiency and i'm
prove personnel; stop the resignation
of the most efficient and trusted en-
ployes, and afford better protection
to the government which they so
faithfully serve.
The frequent changes in the immi-
grafton law indicate the importance
which Congress attaches TO the imml-
grafton problem. and its failure 20
provide for the needs of its enforcing
officers is not understood.
Must Raise Salaries.
Where a government employp
handles money only. the interests of
the country can be protected against
loss Of fraud by requiring the en-
ployes TO give bond. but where h.
handles people. its interests can he
protected only by the integrity of the
officer.
At this port the average salary OF
the inspector in 1908 was S16TJ pet
annum. in 1914 it was S1T07 per am
mum. an increase of little more than
$3.50 per month. while il is generally
admitted that the cost Of living has
increased 80 per cent The govern
ment has not kept pace with the times.
II this important branch Of the
government service. the first line of
our defense in time Of peace. is to be
kept intact. Congress must do some
thing TO keep the trained men in its
own employ rather than let them 90
to the railway and steamship com
panies ut twice the wages paid by the
government. who then are compelled
10 fill their places with unframed and