Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-01-08
DAILY pOST.INTeLLlGENcER
TEE PRePesEB BstRb OF innf'
CITATION COMMISSIONERS.


TEE PReresEs BstKb Of innI.
CITATION CeHnIs.IeSERs.
The Posr-INzKLLIoKsoEz has recently
commented unfsyorabIy apon the bill
now pending before the Legislature 10
regard TO the establishment Of Board
of Immigration Commissioners Tbs
bill vas introduced IN the Council By
Mr.. Bozeu, Of Pacific county. Is is
entitled, "An Act To provide for the Ap-
poiEtment Of Board Of Immigration
Commissioners aud the appropriation Of
money for Immigration Pnfposss-" Il
il faulty 10 theory aud - 20 loosely
drawn and obscure in its language that
IL should unq1sssiouably be defeated
The bill contsins ten sections The
fret provides that the Board shall con
sist of fve members, who shall BE- a.
pointed By the Governor. The second
provides that 1T shall be the duty OF
said Board Of Immigration Commission
ers to hold four regular meetings year
for the purpose Of adopting such plans,
rules and regulations, not contrary to
lag, az may be dsemsd necessary 10 the
Transaction of their regular immiRra-
ton business" The third provides that
vacancies 10 the Board shall be filed by
appointment by the Governor. The
fourth appropfistes 5000 for the year
1885, and an equal sues for the year
1887, "for the purpose Of disseminating
such information regarding the re
sources Of Washington Territory and
the Inducements offered as shall tend
70 locate a desirable class Of immi
grants apon lands 10 this Territory, and
fer paying su,h expenses as may be in
CARED by sach Commissioners" The
9th provides that the Commissioners
shall receive five dsllars per day for
each day In actual attendance on meet
ines Of the Board. and that in addition
they shall receive all necessary travel
ing expenses in coming 10 and going
from their respective meetings." The
sixth provides that the Board shali elect
Q Secretary, who shall receive salary
NOT 10 exceed $50 per month. The
seventh provides that the Board shall
hold f,ur regular meetings 10 each year,
the meetings TO be limited in duration
10 six days eaoh-not sixty days. a. We
previouslysstate under q misappreheD
sion arising from the fact that our in
formation Vas obtained from q faulty
COPY OF the bill. The eighth, ninth and
tenth sectioas relate to the manner Of
drawing the money appropriated and to
the time at which the act shall become
q lay. which shall be- Immediately
after its passage and approval by the
Governor"
The defects of the bill will readily 90
cur 10 any who read it carefully. The
term OF service Of the Commissioners Is
net fixed. The bill provides that they
shall be appointed by the Governor, but
does not state whether they are to serve
for one, txo or three years or for life.
Nor are the duties Of the Commissioners
more clearly defined than the duration
of their terms Of service. Tue only duty
assigned them Is that they shall hold
four regular meetings year fer the
purpose OF adopting such plans, rules
and regulations, not contrary to law, As
may be deemed necessary in the trans
action Of their regular immigration
business" A board Of which the only
duty was to adopt plans, rules and regu
lations for the transaction of its bust
meas, would be an anomaly, to say the
least. The salary Of the Secretary is
fixed at too high figure. The princi
pal aud almost the only duty Of such an
Official would be TO compile aud dissem
mate information concerning the vsri-
Gus parts Of the Territory. This weuld
be done principally by the distribution
Of pamphlets and other printed matter
setting forth the advantages and re-
sources OF the county. There are many
enthusiastic citizsns who would perform
this duty and perform IL well for little
remuneration. No expense, of course,
should fall upon such a one, and he
should receive salary commensurate
with the tune devoted TO his duties and
10 the work performed, bat the creation
Of . perman.nt office with an annual
salsry OF $500 attached Ia unnecessary
and would be an~ise.
There are grave doubts a. 70 whether
Board Of Immigration Commissioners
In Of any real benefit to q country.
There are many who believe that In
prosperous times Immigration will pour
into country unssked, while In times
Of depression 10 10 uawise aud unjust.
alike TO the immigrants and to the older
inhabitants Of the country, to urge i'm
migration. In times Of prosperity i'm.
migration has certainly sought Wash
tnaton Territory In q manner 10 satisfy
the most enthusiastic boomer, and all
thia wAs without the aid Of Board Of
Immigration Commissioners. But waiy.
ine such objections and admitting the
advantages 70 be derived from tbs exis
tsnec Of such Board, the Posr- ISrxL.
rIoEscKa believes that one eoald be ~
tabliseed which would be much less ex
psnsive and no less efficient than that
provided for in the bill by Mr.. Bowen.
With Board Of Immigration CON.
missieners, as with most other boards.
the actual work wsald fall almost en-
tirely upon the Secretary. The mem
bers would watch the work and perhaps
exert certain supervision over IL, and
that 10 ell. Three would be q large
enough number Of members for such
board, and there is no reason why those
members should not be officials Of the
Territory. Why should not the Cover.
nor. Secretary aud Auditor. or any
other three Territorial officials who
NAV be designated, sonsiitste the Board
Of Immigration Commissioners9 Hold.