If it is serious, and they are cripples, and not able to earn their own
living, they are not allowed to come into the country, but are sent back
where they came from, at the expense of the steamship company.

In Spain and Italy, and indeed in many of the European countries, there
are an amazing number of cripples who make their living by begging. These
professional beggars are a dirty, shiftless set of people, a disgrace and
a danger to the countries they live in.

If we allowed them to enter our country it would greatly increase our
taxes and expenses, for we do not allow begging, and so, as the poor
unfortunates must have food and shelter, we would send them to our
almshouses, and have to pay to support them. So it is forbidden to allow
cripples, or people incapable of earning their own living, to come into
the country.

While the doctors are watching for cripples, they also examine the
immigrants carefully, to see that they have not any kind of sickness. Only
healthy immigrants are allowed to land, sick people being sent back.

When the immigrants have passed the doctors, they then reach the clerks,
who must be satisfied that they have money, or friends in the country,
before they give them permission to land.

People who come without money are divided from the rest, and are taken
before a board of inquiry.

Here they are asked why they came to the country. If they have friends who
have sent for them, and who agree to feed and shelter them, they are
allowed to pass. If no friends come for them, they are kept on Ellis