Orleans County Louisiana Archives News.....Italian Immigrants in New Orleans 1898 - Article 9 of 9 October 29, 1898
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The Times Picayune October 29, 1898
The Times Picayune - October 29, 1898
THE INSPECTION OF THE IMMIGRANTS

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Will be Completed Today, But the First Figures
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Will Hardly be Changed, Only Thirteen Being Rejected
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Witnessing the rapid and systematic manner in which the United States inspectors of
Immigration examined, registered and disposed of the hundreds of Sicilians on board
of the steamship Bolivia, any careful observer could not help deprecating the woful
lack of facilities in such a large and important port. The inspection and handling
of over a thousand people on board of a ship, are, accomplished under difficulties
which could very easily be obviated, if proper and adequate accommodations were
afforded.  The gentlemen, whom commissioner general of immigration sent to this city
to help the local officers in inspecting the immigrants on the Bolivia are highly
experienced and very able, and proved their efficiency in a practical way, when they
handled the 1368 Sicilians just arrived. Messrs, Holman, Arbeely, Robinson, Happier,
Baker and D. Micheli were surprised, on this, their first official visit to New
Orleans to find no accommodations at all for the prompt and humane inspection of
immigrants. The word “humane” is advisedly used, for it is is, indeed a hardship on
these poor people to keep them cooped up on board of a ship until all the
formalities are completed. It often happens that some of the immigrants after having
been refused the permission to land, obtain a rehearing, and during that interval
they are compelled to remain aboard ship. 

In other large ports of this country, conditions are vastly different. Three hours
after the immigrant ship landed they are lodged in a convenient and nearby place,
where all the work of inspections, registration, etc., is done by the United States
Inspectors, thus relieving the ship of all further responsibility and care relative
to the immigrants, for the law specifically sets forth that the immigrants are not
to be considered beyond the responsibilty of the ship’s captain until they have been
permitted to land. 

It would be greatly to the advantage of New Orleans and it would add to this city;s
good name abroad, especially with the desirable class of immigrants, if the same
facilities which they obtain in other ports existed here. 

Yesterday the board of inquiry heard twenty appeals on board of the Bolivia.
Seventeen proved their eligibility to land and three were sent to keep company to
the thirteen who had been rejected the day before. The board then accorded a third
hearing to this batch of sixteen, and decided to release three, thus leaving
thirteen rejections. 

Today every one of the rejected men, including those on the steamship Britannia,
will be given a final rehearing, after which the board will close the inquiry and
forward it report to the proper authorities. At the hearing today, Mr. A. N. Howell,
special deputy collector of the port, will be present as deputy commissioner of
immigration, the collector of the port is sitting deputy commissioner, as the
immigration bureau is under the treasury department.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/orleans/newspapers/italiani818gnw.txt

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