Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1917 — THE INTERNED GERMANS [ARTICLE]

THE INTERNED GERMANS

Some purchasers of Liberty lean bonds, who have read exaggerated j reports oif the treatment accorded by the United States authorities to! the German Civilians interned in this country, have written to the treasury department protesting against the use of any of the money raised by the Liberty loans in “pampering’ these alien enemies. These interned German civilians are not prisoners of war and are not under the jurisdiction of tne war department or the trsfesury department, but by the provisions of our immigration lav s are placed under the jurisdiction of the department of labor and comprise officers and crew's of jlx6 phi;i n ni orchant vessels seized by the United States, and other German civilians. Their deportation, which ordinarily w,ould take place, is impracticable in view of the international situation. These aliens receive no compensation from the government except such as is allowed them for work actually performed, and the wages paid them are not exorbitant at "alt In fact, if from labor and other sources they receive more than a moderate amount of money a month, all in excess of a reasonable amount for their care and comfort is withheld from them and placed to their credit in the postal savings banks or some other sal e disposal made of it. The department of labor also officially states that these aliens are not allowed an excessive amount of food, but three meals a day of plain but thoroughly palatable, substantial food are given each. There is no waste in these detention camps and the same measures of economy and conservation are being practiced which are being urged upon every American household.