Speech #640211113

I will have to decline to yield further. because my time is passing so rapidly. I will place In the RECORD at this point the summary of Mr. Howes achievements as commissioner of immigration at Ellis Island as prepared by the Secretary of Labor and submitted to the House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization. It is as follows: (1) A thorough Investigation with experts was made of the cost of the hospitals which were alleged* to be selfsustaining. The commissioner found that the hospitals were losing over $100.000 a year. which loss was being paid by the Government for the benefit of the steamship companies. le secured an increase In hospital charges to steamship companies which has increased the earnings of the hospital by approximately $100.000. (2) He reinvestigated requests for money for permanent appropriations and after investigation reduced such request. in 1915. by $300.000 . (3) tIe reduced. ir response to war conditions. the operating salary costs of the Ellis Island station by approximately $100.000 a year . (4) He investigated the many immigration lodging houses and homes In New York and brought about a cleauup in a number of them. (5) He secured the cooperation of the commissioner of police to clean up the conditions which surrounded the barge office. and by so doing protected the incoming immigrants at New York from the Individuals who had previously preyed upon them. (6) He investigated and brought about many reforms In the protection of the aliens en route from Ellis Island. both at Jersey City and along the route . (7) tHe organized all of the employees at the station into an association for making the wants of the employees known and for securing the -cooperation of all the employees In the administration of the station . (8) He brought about a reorganization of the purchasing of supplies for the hospitals at a great saving and improvement in the service . (9) He made an investigation of the conditions under which landing of first nd second cabin aliens were made at the various piers around New York. and ended many abuses and losses to which the aliens were exposed. (10) He brought about a c2hange in the Inspection of first and second cabin aliens on shipboard which greatly improved the service. ill) He made a number of studies. at the request of the department. as to means for increasing the efficiency and the rating of the em-" ployees. (12) He greatly increased the output of the Divisions of Statistics and brought about a complele change in the filing system. (13) He worked In cooperation with the board of education in New York for the opening of night schools for the education of adult iliens* (14) He organized a number of agencies looking to the protection of aliens in New York. (15) He organized a movement In 1916 for Americanization (lay celebrations throughout the country. and over 100 cities held citizenship celebrations as a result of the comissioners efforts. and (16) During the past two years Ellis Island has been almost free from the constant criticism on the part of foreign organizations and of the foreign press. which prior to his administration was continuous. It was directed at the alleged lack of kindness and consideration to incomIng aliens. The nonforelgn press of New York has been almost unanimous In its approval of his administration and the many changes and improvements which he has brought about.