THE ELLIS ISLAND "PEN."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19141, 6 October 1925, Page 13

THE ELLIS ISLAND "PEN."

QUESTION OF ABOLITION. EXEMPTIONS FOR BRITISH. The Ellis Island immigration station, guarding New York, which for years has been the terror of immigrants seeking admission to the United States, may soon ho a thing of unpleasant memory only if the experiments now being conducted by the Department of Labour are successful. Since August 1. British irnrni]Gt7"otnts, whether they arrive here first, second, or third cabin or steerage, have been examined medically on hoard ship and permitted to land directly at the steamship pier if the Government inspectors find no disease, states a correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph. The examination of immigrants at the oort of departure by American doctors has made the plan possible, and, if found successful, it will be extended to other nations, and Ellis Island as "a detention pen" will pass. Mr. H. Curran. the commissioner in charge of the island accuses the Washington immigration officials of scheming to scrap the immigration depot just after the Government had spent £65,000 upon improvements, and when the facilities at the island have been made adequate to take care comfortably of the restricted number of immigrants allowed to come here | annually. Another large sum of money has been 1 requested from Congress for additional , improvements, and Mr. Curran partly j blames the British for the present move- ' ment, because ''they were the only people who have kept up this whining'" and who have always "kicked,'" despite the fact that there has been no complaint from any immigrant at Ellis Island for many months. The present system of permitting British to land after examination on shiphoard, Mr. Curran says, is unfair discrimination against other nationalities, and be utters warnings on the dangers of experimental medical inspection in the British Isles and a superficial examination at quarantine. The new Ellis Island, Mr. Curran declares, has good food, good beds, good provision for recreation, and the prompt and capable handling of the 700 immigrants constantly on the island, and, I what is more, the important habit of understanding kindness. The island, he claims, is the only place where the interests of Americans and immigrants can be properly safeguarded. Washington despatches declare a new bill is being prepared still further to restrict immigration, and it is Stated that, if the measure ever reaches Congress, the sentiment in its favou* is sufficiently strong to pass it.