had claimed exemption on the ground of alienage, those who surrendered first citizens' papers to secure draft exemption, and still more important, how many had waived such claim. Additional information would show, in a measure at least, their support, or lack of support, of this Government during the war, especially as it pertained to Red Cross work and contributions, and investments in Liberty bonds and war savings stamps.

It would seem highly desirable that the passport-permit files throughout the country-in custody of immigration officials, United States attorneys, commissioners, and others designated to act as agents should ultimately be transferred to the Immigra tion Service, centralized, and indexed for possible reference when the aliens or members of their immediate families seek admission to the United States, or the aliens themselves petition for naturalization.

INSPECTOR IN CHARGE, DISTRICT NO. 13, COMPRISING MISSOURI, IOWA, EASTERN NEBRASKA, EASTERN KANSAS, AND EASTERN OKLAHOMA, WITH HEADQUARTERS AT ST. LOUIS.

The unhappy conditions complained of in last year's report, due to the great reduction of the working force, have been immensely improved during the past year, and, with the appointment of inspectors for the Omaha and Kansas City branches, 1 additional inspector for the home office, and clerks for the Omaha and St. Louis offices, it has been possible to reestablish the service with a considerable degree of efficiency, and the writer is confident that, with similar treatment of needs in the near future, this office will develop far better results than in the past.

The volume of business ever increases. To some extent, the work is augumented by the gradual reopening of the avenues of deportation, and already some of the numerous deportees awaiting removal have been delivered at Ellis Island; but the larger part of the work is in the development of warrant cases, and a considerable number of these are cases of Mexicans admitted by departmental order for specific lines of war work who have deserted their stated employment or otherwise violated their contracts, and thus are amenable to deportation."

Since the signing of the armistice last November, this office has been called upon for but very little assistance by the military authorities of Canada and Great Britain. While activities in connection with the I. W. W. and anarchistic classes have been somewhat less notable than in previous years, the growing influence of these classes in this vicinity, and particularly the spirit of Bolshevism, urges the writer to renew his previous insistent recommendations for more drastic treatment of aliens of this character.

The writer is unable to discover wherein the published teachings of the I. W. W., to which its members appear fully to subscribe, differ from the phrasing of section 3 of the act approved February 5, 1917, and other sections of the law dealing with this problem, while the printed teachings of the Bolsheviki as circulated in America would seem to render many alien adherents proper subjects for deportation.

If the bureau has not already taken action in line with the recommendations of last year and the previous year, looking to a thorough examination of the records of draft boards, with special reference to medical examinations and pleas for exemption of aliens rejected or exempted because of physical, moral or mental unfitness, it is again most respectfully recommended that this matter be taken up in the most comprehensive manner. There can be no possible question that the discoveries made by the draft boards and their medical advisors, as well as the claims of the slackers and other exempts, would furnish evidence in many cases of aliens whose disabilities existed prior to their entry. The supreme urgency of this matter calls for prompt official action. The three and five year limits in many cases soon will expire, and there is reason to suspect that there are many instances of slackers and exempts who are afflicted with disease, loathsome or otherwise, and whose mental state or moral character should lead to the adoption of unusually drastic investigations and warrant proceedings.

The developments under the provisions of the present immigration law, providing for the deportation of alien convicts, are most interesting from many points of view. One point of interest is the possible saving to the taxpayer, which will result in the release of convicted aliens for deportation in the least flagrant cases, and in numerous instances where the convict otherwise might be released on parole and again and again be sentenced for criminality. Another point is the moral effect upon the so-called foreign colonies, whose occasional members are deported after a prison term. The stigma of deportation upon other grounds does not appear to be felt half so strongly as when deportation is based upon a criminal record in America. Again, it is believed

that, in time, many of the courts will develop a disposition to pass more merciful sentences in the cases of the least unworthy convicts, where there can be reasonable assurance that a short sentence of one year, or not much more, will be followed by deportation. On the other hand, there is always the danger of the force and strength of political influence, which the leaders of the foreign element seem ever to be able to enlist. For all of the above reasons, it is strongly recommended that, in the event of the amendment of the immigration law, the present arbitrary provision as to imprisonment for a period of at least one year be so altered that it will apply to imprisonment of, say, six months, and also to apply in the conviction in certain classes of crimes where the sentence may be a mere fine. The bureau is, of course, aware that there are many crimes involving moral turpitude for which local statutes provide imprisonment or fine, or both. I have personal knowledge of heinous offenses, such as rape, seduction, etc., wherein the sentence involved merely a fine, but in which deportation unquestionably should ensue.

DEPORTATIONS.

The estimated number of cases of aliens suspected as being subject to deportation proceedings that received consideration by our officers in the past year was 2,000. Six hundred-eighty investigations were conducted of which a written record was made, and as a result of these investigations 286 departmental warrants were applied for by this office, 278 warrants of arrest were issued on these applications, 233 of which were served; 31 cases are pending before the department, and at the beginning of the year 158 cases remained open from 1918.

The department canceled the warrants of arrest in 17 cases, and directed deportation in 167. Of the aliens involved 132 have now been deported, and this office holds warrants of deportation for 195 aliens, to be executed when conditions permit. These are in addition to 22 such warrants issued in cases arising in other districts and referred here for ultimate execution, the aliens being imprisoned in penal institutions (as the Leavenworth Penitentiary) in this district.

Ten warrants have been issued for the arrest of Chinese persons under the immigration law, 5 of which are now before the department. Two of such cases have been closed and the deportation of the aliens effected.

There have been no arrests of Japanese this year.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.

There have been no unusual expenditures for station and equipment during the past year. The Kansas City branch office has maintained the same quarters as heretofore, and the Omaha branch office still is housed in the Federal building at that point. The allotment for the past fiscal year was reduced from $9.000 to $7,500 and every effort was made to effect such economies as would keep the expenses within the latter sum, but this was utterly impossible, and our actual disbursements chargeable to the past fiscal year ($8,908.26), closely approximate the original allotment. It will be quite impossible to conduct the service during the ensuing year on a less amount than allotted.

CHINESE ARRESTED BEFORE UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS AND COURTS.

In the handling of Chinese matters before the courts we have met with a reasonable degree of success, having at all times had the cooperation of the United States attor neys. Three aliens were arrested on judicial warrants, 1 of whom was discharged from custody, 1 deported, and the case of the third is awaiting decision.

CIVIL SUITS.

One new suit was instituted during the year, that of United States v. Adler, which was dismissed by the Government. Two civil cases pending from last year (United States v. De Vroye and United States v. Tompras) are as yet undecided.

CRIMINAL CASES.

One criminal prosecution for attempted bribery of an immigration officer was instituted and the defendant was bound over to await the action of the grand jury.

WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS.

Twelve habeas corpus cases were pending from the previous fiscal year, and 5 new writs have been sued out. The 5 new cases have been disposed of, the writ having been sustained in but 1 of them.

Very good success has been met with in resisting habeas corpus proceedings in this district during the past fiscal year. It is the endeavor of this office, so far as possible, to meet the requirements of the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in the handling of the hearings. It is found, however, that in hearings granted aliens in other districts, in cases where aliens are convicted and sent to the Federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan., there is a growing tendency on the part of the aliens upon release from prison to commence habeas corpus proceedings at Kansas City, Mo. In these cases difficulty is met with in sustaining the administrative hearing, as the hearings as conducted by inspectors who are not familiar with the rules laid down by our court, fall far short of meeting the requirements of the appellate courts; however, in such cases it is endeavored to have the court enter its order without prejudice, thus permitting the office to rearrest the alien and grant him a new hearing. The difficulty of this, however, lies in the fact that at such a late date it is almost impossible in the average case to locate witnesses, who during the intervening time have changed locations and sometimes have been deported.

WHITE-SLAVE MATTERS.

There have been no developments incident to our handling of white-slave cases which would appear to call for special comment.

CONTRACT LABOR.

Activities along the above line were confined principally to the cases of Mexicans who were imported by the various railroads and other specified industries under the exception to the alien contract labor law. We have had reports of innumerable desertions and have succeeded in locating and deporting quite a large number of aliens who were imported in the above manner. There was nothing unusual or particularly interesting in the handling of these cases, and as the importations were by departmental authority, there were no occasions for proceedings against the importers, except that in certain instances the costs of returning the aliens were taxed against them.

In one instance the Mexican consul voiced a complaint about living conditions and wages with respect to some 70 aliens who were imported to work on a farm in southeast Missouri. An investigation was conducted, as a result of which it was found that the importer had been living up to his contract but that certain dissatisfaction had crept into the minds of the aliens. The solution was a happy one and resulted in the importer sending the aliens back to Mexico at his expense, with the exception of some 30, who were permitted to take employment on a railroad.

SMUGGLING.

There have been no developments in this district directly relating to the smuggling of Chinese, although several cases reported anonymously have been investigated.

INVESTIGATIONS.

The following investigations have been conducted: Cases of applicants for entry, 90; aliens admitted on bond, 1; warrant cases, 280; naturalization matters, 149; Chinese applicants for admission, 6; preinvestigations of status, 10; warrant cases (Chinese persons arrested under immigration act), 11; to determine lawful residence of Chinese, 16; miscellaneous Chinese matters, 16.

WAR WORK.

This office and its attachés have taken a keen interest, of course, in the war and the work incident thereto with its many ramifying lines. Numerous inquiries for information and assistance have been made of this office from time to time by other branches of the Government service as well as by civilians.

PASSPORT-PERMIT WORK.

This work has been handled by this office and its several branches, and in St. Louis it took up the entire time of one inspector with occasional assistance from other members of the force. At Omaha and Kansas City the work was handled by the inspectors there stationed with the assistance of their clerks, in connection with the general immigration work.

The number of alien travel permits granted in this district was 1,135. Nineteen applications were refused, 76 applications were canceled or permits which had been granted were not called for, and 8 cases of this character are pending on the date of this report.

PERSONNEL.

The gradual increase of force, as commented upon in the first pages of this report, has resulted in very promising conditions. In all the writer's long experience in this service this office has never had more faithful and industrious inspectors than the present force. All are men of potential capacity and ability, and are developing a high degree of efficiency and fitness. The faithfulness and loyalty displayed by the present force throughout merit a strong expression of gratitude and appreciation.

INSPECTOR IN CHARGE, DISTRICT NO. 15, COMPRISING MONTANA AND IDAHO, WITH HEADQUARTERS AT HELENA.

DEPORTATIONS (EXPULSIONS).

After investigations in 106 cases, 34 warrants of arrest were issued, in addition to 59 that were pending July 1, 1918. All but 37 of such cases have been disposed of during the past fiscal year; 30 aliens, in all, have been deported, 20 of them for surreptitious entry.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.

The net allotment for this district was $3,500, and the total disbursements amounted to $3,137.23.

CHINESE ARRESTED BEFORE UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS AND COURTS.

One case, pending from previous years, is still undecided. No new cases have been commenced.

There have been no civil suits or criminal prosecutions under the immigration or Chinese-exclusion laws.

Writs of habeas corpus were applied for in the cases of four Mexican aliens, the writs being dismissed and the aliens deported.

WHITE-SLAVE MATTERS.

Two aliens have been deported, and cases of violations of the white-slave sections of the law involving 4 others were investigated. Proceedings have been canceled in respect to one of these, one is on probation, and the other two were found not to be subject to deportation.

CONTRACT LABOR.

Under this head only one deportation is to be reported that of a Mexican brought in by a sugar company from Mexico. The principal object in this deportation was to impress upon a number of disturbers among Mexican laborers brought in to work in the beet fields the fact that deportation could and would be effected if they failed to comply with their part of the contract. The result was that the situation became much improved, and no complaints have been received since.

SMUGGLING OPERATIONS.

As previously reported under this head, there is no reason to believe that smuggling is carried on, at least to any extent. On account of the great distance between the ports many people pass back and forth across the boundary, but it is believed that in most cases they report to or through the Canadian mounted police or United States customs officials stationed near the boundary.

It is not believed that there is any smuggling of Chinese across the boundary of either Montana or Idaho.

CHINESE PREINVESTIGATION MATTERS.

Return certificates were granted in the cases of 1 native, 2 merchants, and 10 laborers; and 1 application for a return certificate (student class) was refused.

INVESTIGATIONS.

Fifty-one investigations were made in connection with the admission of aliens at ports of entry destined to points within this district; 106 warrant cases required investigations; 229 persons were examined for certificates of arrival for naturalization purposes; 45 investigations were made in connection with various matters referred here from other districts; and 12 aliens who had entered without inspection were examined and their residence legalized.

Seventeen investigations were made in Chinese cases.

PERSONNEL.

During the past year the principal field work of the district has been handled or covered by one inspector, and while the number of cases handled and investigated are fewer than in 1918, a greater number of warrant cases were handled, and the warrants executed. It is perhaps needless to say that with the area of this district and one field officer to handle most of it, this office does not get anything like the number of cases it should or would get with a force commensurate with the size of the district. The writer trusts the bureau will bear with him in again bringing to notice the necessity for additional inspectors in field service to maintain a proper standard of efficiency for the service generally.

PASSPORT-PERMIT WORK.

Applications numbering 169 were received from aliens residing in this district for permits to leave the United States, 3 of such applications relating to enemy aliens, natives of Austria. These latter are still pending, and all but one of the remaining applications have been granted.

INSPECTOR IN CHARGE, DISTRICT NO. 11, COMPRISING COLORADO, WYOMING, UTAH, WESTERN NEBRASKA, WESTERN KANSAS, AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA, WITH HEADQUARTERS AT DENVER.

WARRANT CASES.

There were 111 warrant cases, covering 111 aliens, pending at the close of the fiscal year 1918. During the fiscal year 1919, 55 warrants, covering 93 people, were received, making a total of 166 warrants, covering 204 people, for service during the fiscal year 1919, of which the following disposition was made:

Deportation was effected on 19 warrants, covering 20 people; 8 warrants were canceled; 15 aliens were repatriated to Germany; 5 cases referred to other offices for action; 2 deportation warrants were canceled on account of the death of aliens; and 117 cases, covering 154 persons, were pending June 30, 1919.

Of these last, 69 warrants, covering 103 aliens, were issued for Mexican alien agricultural and railroad laborers, who had deserted the work for which they were imported, and were not found; and 9 aliens for whom warrants had issued were not found, making a total of 78 warrants, covering 112 aliens, against whom no action could be taken; 21 aliens have been ordered deported; 10 of these have disappeared, in some instances forfeiting bonds, and the remainder are awaiting favorable opportunities for their deportation; there are 10 cases, involving 12 aliens, in which the department has rendered no decision; 2 cases are pending, and 1 alien was turned over to the United States Navy, after having been given a hearing under warrant of arrest, it being found that he was a deserter.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.

The amount allotted by the bureau for this district for the fiscal year 1919 was $2,000. The disbursements were $2,091.37.