New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-15
DANGER OF IMMIGRATION


OF THE SWISS coNsUL-GESERAL,-REsrRrc, -
OF IMMIGRATION NOT FAvoRED-SA r,o.'s
LAWS For Trs REGULATION NEEDED
The communication OF s. II. NJ. Byers IT..
States Consul at Zurich. Switzerland, published J
Fridays TRIBUNE, upon Dangers in Imm,,-~
tion," caused considerable comment among tber, &C
missioners Of Emigration yesterday, and il WA ~,
commented upon by j. Bertschmann, the co,,"v'
General Of Switzerland to the United STAT. y
was characterized as too sweeping in It's eh.,..N
misleading. and not sufficiently specific. The ~
precedeDted prosperity OF The United States :, a
said clearly illustrates the advantage 20 the ~"
try of immigration in the past and It's faportanosa1
the development OF vast unoccupicd do,,.,'4
therefore immigration ought not to b. restrc,sa :.
limited. as was suggested.
Commissioner Hausselt said to a TRInrs,
porter: Immigration TO this country hasp,o,,,
"A great blessing Ii brings wealth and deyelo,s ~
resources Of the country by improving and cultiv..
ing the vast acreage of-heretoforc was lands NJ.
majority of the immigrants bring money be,,g
| and labor. Out Of the 100000 IlnN grants ~
have arrived this year | have only known a..
twenty German families that were undecided a,,a
their destination. They had saved a little moo,
and sold their household goods, and had come b.,.
to become good and valuable citizens THIS wo,,I
do not even seem to know where they are going "a
only the steamer lists onlighten one as to wSs,.
they came FROM. The Germans make some Of a..
best soldiers and best citizens. We shoDS
! have laws which should protect Us again.,
the Introduction Of paupers and criminal,
aud it has been our effort to get sI
! legislation by Congress but thus far IL h.,
| failed TO sec the necessity of it, am not af,,,
that going to be controlled by Socialists pa
do believe in the passport system, it would nr.
vent the best elements from coming here. Fonigo
authorities not now particular regarding ns.,
ports, as proved by the fact that have been !,
Europe four times in the past five years and was po
once asked for n passport"
Although we have been particularly free fra.
the pauper and criminal class of immigrants anri,.
this year" said Commissioner Starr, am lin favo,
Of a national law, such as is now pending in Con.
gress which Will prohibit the landing Of those xho
have within SIX months previous to their arrival
been inmates of lunatic asyums or poor-houses and
providing for their return at the expense Of the sh
which brought them here. The same proposedhv
guards against the Introduction OF persons chars3
with crime who shall be pardoaed ma,
condition Of their coming to the United S.sts
1t is impossible fully to appreciate tho vain.
of immigration TO this country, but while eascn,
aging immigration we must guard against the land
Il z Of paDpers destitute persons and CrmInah
upon our soH record Of the name age eondti0i
in life, nationality, destination and trade OF ever
hmm graut Is made and kept. Very leW people a..
rive who do DOt know their destination"
Commissioner &. l.. Uirch sad: 9" think somt
Of the statements made by Mr. Byer3 cxtIayR
CANT. IL he Is aware that pauper immigralts ara
being Sent here by the poor authorizes IN t0Feil
countries, lie should report the matter T. ~
Secretary OF State for action, that TIC Com
mlssoncrs OF linn grafton may be INFORMED
and intercept them. l cannot conceive hos
thousands OF crpples, IDIOTS pauncrs ald
criminals pass our guards who are stationed q
take a minute record OF each immigrant, 10 is tln
that several of this class of swiss aud Italian In,
migrants who have been sent here Ny the p0i
authorities Of their country have been stopped and
sent back. aud thus Las tended 10 check the evil
Now We want a National law 10 protect lmmlgrh
ton ANA ave the Commissioners absolute power q
return ali sucn, which power they 90 not row lava
l do not believe that the passport system would
be successful and think foreign Government
would loo. upon such an inqu.st1rIal system as an
insult. Besides. If che passport system wen
adopted We should want bOttermaiera FOR consus
and TINS could not GET without more lIlesai SAL
aries. W Tn the exception OF q limited leTcentaT
OF Italians and Irish, there axe very few immigrants
who hive not their destination selected before leaE
ing home"
Secretary Jackson when asked his opinion, said,
=" The proportion of immigrants OF the dependent
class is less now than heretofore. The character
OF immigrants Is much improved. IIs is ac
counted tOr BY the sending back * seyerl
Daupers and others sent here b. tue Door authOr,
ties. But we need law winch Will give MS absolute
power u send all OF such people back. | have 10
know ledge that 700 WreJched and ignorant Italla1
have b,en sent here Oy any authorities, although
the majority of them are wrec and ignorant
enough; nor do | know Of any criminals laylal
been recently liberated upon size condition thai
they would come to the United States. Ii immiglr
tOn is to be encouraged and thIuk ii ought 10 be-
there must be some legal method Of protect;
ing ourselves from the influx Of the mCs
degraded and burdensome classes OF foreign p0pula-
ton. Aud there mist also be some legal provisions
that Will protect the inexperienced stranger, Who
lands FOR the first time upon cur shores from BE-
coming the prey OF every harpy who may choose 70
take advantage Of his Ignorance and nelplessnes.
Immi grafton should be made a national concen,
and be regulated by Congress; then every port
would be protected against the iptrOdge.
ton of those likely 10 become public
burden. The magnitude OF the subject and tie III
ability of the States longer TO aDlsl regulations
as decided by the supreme Court, makes inter-
terence b. Congress duty winch cannot be eYddel.
law 70 limit immigration would be rnNise, ana
such a proposition would probably be lrOngY Op-
posed by the Western people; where there is muea
unGccuDed land to be improved. Most OF the lmni.
grants who have arrived here TINS year have not
been rich, but they have had sufficient money
10 buy lands and homes ia TIE West
| know case OF twenty Russian families which have
settled IN Nebraska aud brought an aggregate o.
$50, 600 with them. Ii an average WIS 10 be drawn
the amount OF money brought 10 ths country W
migrants would be no less than rlOO elch.
j. BcTtCSumann, COusul-bcncraI OF >WtZsf
land TO Tins country, commented follows upon the
question:: There are frequent MISUNDERSTANDING
as TO Swiss immigrants beng sent 10 TINS c0lnip
by the poor authorities rs referred to by NJ. BycFS
There are several communities III SStzerahi.
which are very wealthy, ana some Of tacse
II frequently happens that they want 10 ga
RID OF Some worthless ami lazy fellow. and tney
furnish hIm money TO go away upon condition tlls
he never Will return. the Federal Government,
however, Is opposed To II, and, when sucn cas-
have come 10 my knowledge | have sent "cn
home. l have also sent such people back ana tho
t Uderai Government has forced The communities "
pay the expense. The town winch Mr. Byers SAYS
lis voted $40 head to all VINO Will cmlglaie mast
be known TO himself only. hs nave not heard OIL u
before. he SWISS as a rule. are good. hard-wOrA.
ing people, but some OF them have an idea tnas
hey live much easier this county,
W zen asked for information By my people. inVan'
ibly tell them that If they want TO work they esa
Iaye pleasant homes here, bat IL they are lazy t1sy
would better STAY al home, for taey would DC Wois'
III here A. 10 the laws regarding GUARDIANSHIP
'nly miners and those apt To squandcr their pTo2eH