(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
A plan whereby an immigration inspector, a customs officer and a United States Public Health Service physician would be placed on the large ocean liners to expedite the examination of passengers, obviating the delay at quarantine, is being worked out by the Department of Labor. Secretary James J. Davis, who returned from Europe where he went to inspect the immigration service of the various countries, conferred yesterday with immigration officers of the Department of Labor on this proposal and later will confer with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of State.
“I cannot understand,” said Secretary Davis, “why we do not have immigration inspectors, together with customs inspectors and public health officers aboard the ocean liners in order to do away with the necessity of a stop in quarantine. During the crossing, these officers would have, if the plan is carried out, time to examine the passports and state of health of those coming to America and thus eliminate the crowding and hurry during the time they board the liners at quarantine until the ship docks.
“It is not logical that these large ships should stop at quarantine for an appreciable time when they have splendid hospitals and all necessary conveniences to expedite the examination of aliens at sea. There is no reason why we should not modernize our system, and I am confident after having made this voyage aboard the He de France that my system of examination at sea will be employed in the near future.”
Secretary Davis said that he believed the program could be worked out between the Departments of the Government and that legislation would not be necessary to put it into operation.
“I hope,” said the Secretary, “to have the plan in working order before my term of office expires on March 4. I think it would be a great blessing to the ocean-traveling public to have the plan put into effect.”
During his trip abroad Secretary Davis inspected the American consular service and the immigration services in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Great Britain, France and Germany.
“In all of the consular offices and the immigration stations I visited, I found conditions very satisfactory,” said Secretary Davis. “The technical advisers’ service and the work of the public health officers in examining the immigrants abroad have been as satisfactory as the most optimistic could expect.”
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