Evening star., 1941-04-13

In piping tunes OF peace, Aliens are
scarcely given a second thought by
Americans. But In time of national
emergency the non-citizen becomes
Uncle Sans red-headed stepchild.
Within the ranks of these unlimited
guests of the Nation in a time of crisis
turks the Trojan Horse.
The most recent episode in the drama
of what might be entitled "Waging Un-
declared War by Aliens" has been the
seizure of % Italian, two German and
SO Danish merchant ships tied up in
American harbors, and the detention or
internment of their alien crews.
Deportation proceedings await almost
a thousand alien seamen who manned
the vessels of the axis powers, and who
are charged with the unlawful sabotage
of ships in American territorial waters
in violation of one section of the 1917
Espionage Act.
The alien crew of one German vessel,
the tanker Pauline Friedrich at Boston,
is held at the immigration station there,
and sailors of another Nazi motorshlp,
the Arauca, are detained at the Coast
Guard station in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Meanwhile, the axis governments clamor
for the release of the seized vessels and
crews.
The problem of the disposition of the
alien crews of these ships focuses re-
newed interest on the Hobbs bill (H. R. -
now pending before the House, and re-
| Gently reported from the Judiciary Com
mittee. The Hobbs bill, by all signs of
| political augury, seems destined for
| favorable action by Congress this spring.
Aliens Since Registered.
Representative Hobbs, who has served
from Alabama's 4th district since 1884
introduced his bill originally on May s.
1899. It's purpose was to place in GUS
| tody about $50 deportable aliens who
were white slavers, drug peddlers, an
| archists, advocates of the overthrow of
| our Government by force and felons
whose crimes involved moral turpitude
Opponents Of the. bill at the time
claimed that its purpose was Ito au-
/ thorize the establishment of Hitleresque
concentration camps and stockades' -
to quote line from Mr.. Hobbs himself.
/ This and similar arguments were suf-
ficient to prevent Congress from enacting
| the Hobbs bill at the time.
A great deal of water has gone under
the bridge, however, since May, 1899
| the Alien Registration Act of 1910, for
instance-which makes legislation OF
the type sponsored by Representative
Hobbs not only desirable. but imperative
The Hobbs bill in its amended l94l
form would establish in the Justice De-
partment board for the supervision OF
deportable aliens, consisting of three
members, appointed by the President
with senatorial consent. Each board
| member would receive an annual salary
of $4,000. This board would have juris-
diction over all aliens against whom 6
valid warrant of deportation was out
standing, pending deportation. Sucf
aliens could be held without bail, but
not put at hard labor, for varying period!
up to year Cor additional time if neces-
sary) at the discretion of the board
The bill grants aliens of this class certain
immunities and imposes other prohibi
tions.
Changes in Status Provided.
Under the terms of title 4 of the bill
the Attorney General would have au
thority to grant change of status from
that Of non-immigrant to that of al
immigrant for permanent residence tt
any alien who applies within two year
after the effective date of the act anC
who can make a satisfactory showing OF
one of the following grounds:
l. That he was admitted to the United
States as non-immigrant prior to Jan
uary l, 1941, and has resiGed in tn
United States since such entry. 2. Tha
he is racially eligible to naturalization
3. That he is a person of good mora
character and attached to the principle