Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-23
OUR MAIL POUCH.
MIR. Dravo More Fully Explains His sup
port of the Alien Tax Billie Does Not
Claim That Il is Perfect.

Mr.. Dravo More Fully Explains His sup
port of the Alien Tax Billie Does Not
Claim That II is Perfect.
To the Editor Of The Dispatch.
House bill 140, taxing alien labor, seeks 70
deal with difficult and unsolved problem, ana
hence fully appreciate your editorial crlti-
cism in to-day's issue of The DISPATCH Inc
bill is not what could desire found it on
the calendar of the House when it was too late
in the session to undertake q recast; but have
strong convictions of the enormous evil arising
from the increasing influx of foreigners with
mercenary motives solely, having no compre-
hension of the nature or sympathy with our
notwithstanding to remain only long
enough to secure sufficient means to return
whence they came. In an economic view they
add nothing to the prosperity or the activities
of trade They build no houses: they furnish
no homes; they purchase no merchandise to
any appreciable extent; the vast majority live
in filth and self-enforced poverty, that their
gains may be more rapid and their return the
more speedy.
AS in Fayette county, they pay no tax; their
children, when not old enough to work. crowd
our schools; they fill our prisons and protract
the sessions of our courts, increasing very
largely the costs of local government.
Recognizing the evils of indiscriminate i'm
migration the BILL imperfect as it is, seeks to
secure two important ends. First, and prima-
rily, to make a start in the direction OF re-
straining undesirable immigration. All re-
form must have a commencement. The aim
is to start the movement in the right direc-
tion.
Second-The bill seeks revenue for local
government, to meet increased cost of admins
tration brought about By the presence OF the
parties to be taxed. The provisions of the bill
impose no burdens upon, and places no OBJ
structions in the way of moral and intelligent
foreigners who come to stay to uphold our in
stitutions and love our flag. All such are pre-
pared to declare their purpose as soon as they
arrive. They are already American citizens,
save only the legal form of naturalization;
declaration of their intentions exempts them
from the restrictions sought to be imposed
upon class who have no such qualification
and no such purposes.
am pleased at the fairness and tone of THE
DISPATCH editorial. l was prepared to have
the press rake me fore and aft for my advocacy
of this measure. While adverse, even savage,
criticism, would have no terrors in the face OF
duty and convictions yet it is very pleasant,
when one is cropping his way in the dark
wrestling with difficult and unsolved problems,
seeking the right as the right may be discov-
True this is national question. and yet the
State may lead the way to the extent of State
authority. The bill is a venture, an expert
ment-an attempt to redeem promises-better
to save America for Americans, native or
adopted. If in practical working it develops
merit, future legislation can amend and per-
feet If it works i'll then repeal.
JOHN F. DRAyo.
PITTsBURG, March q, 1889