TRANSPORTATION OF THINGS

Mr. WAGNER. The next item, Mr. Chairman, is transportation of things, $7,500. This item covers the expense of freight and express and drayage of supplies, materials, and equipment and the cost of transferring household effects and other personal property of the immigrant inspectors in order to perform duty in foreign countries, including the expense of packing, crating, freight, and drayage. Seven thousand, one hundred and sixty-two dollars was expended for this service last year.

PHOTOGRAPHING AND PRINTS

The next item is photographing and prints, $10,300. Last year we expended $9,916.

Because of the increase in deportation work we feel that the estimate of $10,300 is justified.

ADVERTISING

Advertising for bids is the next item, $100. This item is required for newspaper advertising for bids covering feeding and money exchange privileges at immigration stations.

LIGHT, POWER, ELECTRICITY, AND WATER

Furnishing of light, power, electricity, and water, $30,000. Last year we expended $27,998 for electricity, illuminating gas, and so forth. Water is the heaviest item. It runs from $21,000 to about $23,000 a year. Since July 1, we have added additional quarters to various places and as a consequence there will be increased expense for light.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Do you happen to know offhand how much you pay for water at Ellis Island?

Mr. WAGNER. $19,031 was the cost of fresh water for Ellis Island last year.

RENTALS

The

The next item is for rentals. The amount is $116,500. estimated rental of buildings is $103,000. This estimate was prepared at the beginning of the fiscal year. Since then our rentals have increased about $9,000.

Mr. ACKERMAN. In Washington or in the field?

Mr. WAGNER. In the field. In some instances the rentals have been increased. In other places new quarters were required in connection with registry work.

Mr. ACKERMAN. At what places?

Mr. WAGNER. Chicago, Detroit, Brownsville, San Antonio, and Los Angeles.

RENTAL OF MOTOR VEHICLES

The estimate of $11,000 for rental of motor vehicles is to provide transportation for 37 immigrant inspectors who receive an average of about $25 a month for use of their privately owned automobiles on official business.

The estimate of $2,500 for rental of miscellaneous equipment covers the rental of tabulating machines used in the preparation of immigration statistics.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Has the department motors of its own?
Mr. WAGNER. Motor equipment?

Mr. ACKERMAN. Yes.

Mr. WAGNER. In the immigration field service, about 56 vehicles;

in the border patrol, 287 passenger cars and 18 trucks. Mr. OLIVER. Could you divide those as between the two borders? Mr. WAGNER. Yes, sir; I will place that in the record.

Mr. BACON. If you seize a car that is being used in the smuggling of aliens across the borders, can you appropriate that car for your own use?

Mr. WAGNER. No, sir.

Mr. BACON. Where does that go?

Mr. WAGNER. It is turned over to the Treasury Department.

REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS

Repairs and alterations is the next item, $30,000.

The estimate for the several items under this head are predicated on amounts expended during the last fiscal year.

SPECIAL AND MISCELLANEOUS CURRENT EXPENSES

Special and miscellaneous current expenses, $6,000. This item covers laundry and towel service and other miscellaneous items of expense such as the removal of ashes at immigration stations. During the fiscal year 1929, $5,505 was expended for that service.

BURIAL EXPENSES

The next item is burial expenses, $500. That covers the cost of the burial of aliens who die while in the custody of the immigration service.

EQUIPMENT

Equipment is the next item, $55,917. During the fiscal year 1929, we expended $68,178 and our estimate for 1930 is $30,990. That is below what we will need.

As I have stated heretofore, we have temporarily reduced these items in order to take care of registry work until a supplemental estimate of appropriations can be secured.

The major item under this head is passenger-carrying vehicles, for which $21,748 was expended last year.

Our inspectional service now has 56 vehicles in operation and the $25,000 asked for is needed in connection with replacements and new equipment.

The other items under the head of equipment are based on the amounts expended for the same items during the fiscal year 1929.

BORDER PATROL

We now come to the itemization of the border patrol. We have already mentioned the amount for salaries, but I will repeat it here. The total appropriation is $1,868,440, and of that sum $1,625,000 is for salaries of an average force of 823 employees.

Mr. ACKERMAN. Can you place in the record the salaries in these various positions?

Mr. WAGNER. Yes, sir. You want them grouped-that is so many at a fixed salary, and so forth?

Salary groupings of border patrol personnel

Mr. BACON. I recall you said this morning there was no increase in the border patrol estimated next year over this year. Mr. WAGNER. That is correct.

Mr. BACON. The reason why there is no increase is because of the project to make some consolidations?

Mr. WAGNER. I do not know that it is, but we presume that to be the fact.

The outstanding accomplishment of the immigration border patrol for the fiscal year 1929 was the apprehension of 34,591 persons found engaged in unlawful activity.

Out of this total 29,568 were smuggled aliens and aliens who otherwise gained unlawful entry and 291 were found to be smugglers of aliens.

In the fiscal year 1928, 18 such aliens were apprehended.

In connection with the activities of the border patrol, 741 automobiles of an estimated value of $271,999, and 222 other conveyances of an estimated value of $27,852 were encountered and seized, some containing contraband aliens and others contraband liquor. The liquor aggregated 352,869 quarts at an estimated value of $337,769. The seized vehicles were delivered to the appropriate governmental agency; that is, the Treasury Department.

The past year, as did each year succeeding the establishment of the border patrol, witnessed tremendous strides in the development of the organization's efficiency-its morale, discipline, and esprit de corps. The organization is recruited by means of competitive examinations from the finest type of young manhood in the country. Those candidates who successfully pass the written examination, very largely in the nature of an intelligence test, must thereafter satisfy a board, upon oral examination, that they are in every other respect fit material for the arduous and exacting duties of the border patrol. When they have done this, they undergo a physical examination at the hands of Government surgeons, and if found physically fit enter upon a probation for a period of six months, at the conclusion of which, if their conduct and services have been satisfactory, they receive absolute appointment; otherwise they are dropped from the rolls. After receiving absolute appointment involuntary separation from the service occurs only on formal written charges, to which the accused is afforded full opportunity to reply in writing. The merit system prevails, and promotions up to this time both in rank and pay have been more rapid than is generally the case in the older Government organizations.

The border patrol offers to young men an honorable and attractive career. The requisites to success are uncompromising honesty, intelligence, ambition, industry, and courage. The work is arduous, exacting, and oftentimes hazardous in the extreme, calling for the exercise in well-balanced proportions of initiative, resourcefulness, discretion, courtesy, and patience.

Ten men in the organization, whose names are hereinafter listed, have lost their lives in encounters with outlaws. Outlaws very frequently shoot and shoot to kill when they are challenged, unless the odds are greatly against them. Patrolmen are under the strictest orders to shoot only in self-defense. Once attacked, however, they shoot fast, straight, and with deadly effect.

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS

As to supplies and materials for the border control, $72,700. The estimated expenditure for the several items listed under the head "Supplies and materials" is based on the cost of such items during the fiscal year 1929. Sixty-five thousand dollars, the largest item under that head, is for gasoline and oil.

Mr. ACKERMAN. You try to buy your gasoline from one company at wholesale rates and then allocate it to your various services?

Mr. WAGNER. We contract for the service. I think we get as low a rate as can be secured.

STORAGE AND CARE OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Storage and care of motor vehicles, $4,500. This is for garage. rentals for 75 cars, at an average cost of $6 per month.

COMMUNICATION SERVICE

Communication service, $4,900. The items under this head are telegraph and telephone, the same as under immigration, and the estimate is based on the cost of service during the fiscal year 1929.