Evening star., 1925-02-15
Capital Sidelights

OF every land coming to our shores
in the steerage by the thousands
look to for a larger measure of justice
and hope and they ever received else
where.
! Representative John L.. Cable Of
ONO. after pointing out that there
Is rule as old as the law itself
that every man is entitled to his day
IN court. gives US a glimpse OF the
Immigrants Court" First he explains
now an immigrant arriving at Ellis
lsiand, his passports in proper shape
and he himself within his countrys
quota, receives. a VISA" and then
when examined thoroughly by a
public health doctor is found to be
physically in a condition that might
AFFECT his ability to earn a living. He
tnen gets his first day in court" be.
fore board of special inquiry at the
port, and the findings then made, with
record OF the case. are sent to Wash
ington on appeal for final decision by
the Secretary of Labor
Similarly, the case is dealt with of
the half-breed who climbs through a
hole In the fence between California
and Mexico. He is arrested by the
immigration inspector for his first
day in court"
And then just appeals are made
to the Supreme Court of the United
States from the lesser courts all over
the country. so these case of tn.
humble immigrants are taken on ap-
peal to the Immigrants Court" in
Washington, which last year had more
than $4,000 appeal cases.
After the World War the suffering
people OF Europe threatened a human
inundation of the United States. AL
most every alien denied admission by
boards Of special inquiry appealed to
the Secretary Of Labor, up to a rate
OF 5000 month. Secretary Davis
says: AT some times the situation
has been such that the hangman's Job
was gtntlemanfs job compared with
mine. Nearly all of the races OF the
world were coming in, and my ONCE
and that entire floor OF the Department
OF Labor Building became a veritable
oedlam, with poly8lot cries OF anguish
and desperation surprising anything
heard about the Tower Of Babel"
And, showing how Secretary Davis
put his heart into the bitter task, we
quote: We do not decide upon the
admissibility Of a bag OF salt or
coffee or sugar or the amount of duty
or tribute which shall be paid as a
right to enter this land of ours. We
are dealing with human rights, human n
Liberties, human ambitions, human
ties and human love. 1t is a source
OF pride to me that in the application
of these rigid laws to human situa
tions l have not become hardened
and grown cold toward those who
seek to better themselves in a better
land. / shall always remember the
sroAns and distressing scenes which
nave been part of the administra-
tion OF immigration laws. as long as l
live"
To cure the situation, Secretary
Davis called TO his ONCE Robe Carl
White, an able, efficient and hard.
headed Hoosier, to establish a clear
in& house of some kind to handle
these distressing cases, grown so nu-
merous that no one man, no matter
how tirelessly he. might work, could
dispose Of alone. Mr.. White estab-
ished the 'Immigrants' Court" COM
monty known as the Secretary's board
Of review. Men experienced in the
immigration law. and who could say
mo- for the benefit of America-who
would not be swayed by persuasive
arguments of highly paid lawyers or
by political power or members of Con-
gress-were inducted into Office
Daily hearings are held-at time g
as many as 40 day. There is a
the Department of Labor building.
Tho alien may appear in person or
represented by welfare organization
or legal counsel Often a Senator or
member of the House appears in per-
son. An opinion" is written by a
member of the court in every case
Representative Cable has put into
the Congressional Record a summary
Of the kind, character and amount of
work done by this court.
Recently the erstwhile staid and
august, somber and solemn Senate OF
the United States has been lapsing
the customary heavy and serious rou-
tine. For example, in the debate over
confirmation of Harlan F. Stone SEN
ator Norris of Nebraska lapsed into
moralizing over the influence of hu-
man nature in close decisions and the
way that difficult cases are often de-
termined by the viewpoint of the in
dividual-"a part of the man that re-
mains as part of the Judge" he de-
clared
"A great American poet ,has ex-
pressed in beautiful language the
hope that this viewpoint might even
survive death itself" said Senator
Norris. land go on in its human way
through all eternity. When writing
of the change that is brought about
by death. he said:
''wiu death change me 30
That / shall sit among the lazy saints.
Turning a deaf ear to the sore complaints
OF souls that suffer?
Methinks-God pardon IL the thought be sin
That q world of pain were better, If therein
Ones heart might still be human. and desires
OF human pity drop upon its hres
Some cooling tears.
y X Il
The House also has acquired a pen.
chant for versification-mostl quota.
tions from famous bards. although
such original verses as those on Gals
Hobby Horse" do occasionally in.
trude. The tree has been a favorite
theme. Last week it was Joyce Kill
mer's "Only God Can Make a Tree"
and this week Representative John
D. Clark of New York treats us to
Henry Abbey's What Do We Plant
What do we plant when We plant the tree7
We plant the ship which will cross the sea;
We plant the mast to carry the sails;
We plant the plauks to Withstand the sales-
The keel the keelson, the beam, the knee
We plant the ship when we plant the tree.
What do we plant when We plant the tree,
We plant the houses for you and me:
We plant the studding the lath, the doors,
The beams and siding, all parts that bei
We plant the house when we plant the tree.
What do we plant when we plant the tree!
A thousand things that we daily see.
We plant the spire that out-towers the crax
We plant the staff for our country's nag;
We plant the shade from the hot sun free,
We plant all these when we plant the tree.
OF course, you guessed right, Rep
resentative Clark was speaking on
reforestatfon. He told this little joke
on himself:
Il do not come here as an orator.
he said, although as a youngster ]
had aspirations in that line. They
lasted until 1 was sent to Kingston
as q committee of one to bring into