New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-20
THE FORD Committees REPORT
EVILS OF UNRESTRICTED IMMIGRATION.
BILL SUBMITTED TO coNGREss-MR. sPINoIA
nIsernrra rrn,. I'LL. ronrn,r

A BILL SUBMITTED TO coNGREss-MR. sPINoJA
DIssENTs FROM THE MAJORITY.
Washington, Jan. 10.-In the House to-day Mr. Ford,
| OF Michigan, from the Committee immigration, re-
ported bill on the subject II placed on the
| calendar
The report accompanying the bill begins with re-
etal OF the existing statutes upon the subject of
Wet and paupcr labor, and immigration generally 1t
says that the committee held sessions in New-York,
bOston, Pittsburg and Detroit. great many wit
nesses have been sworn and large amount of testi
mony has been taken. The Investigation more
extended at New-York than at any other place bo-
cause the great majority Of immigrants received
there It was obvious to the committee that 1t was
almost impossible to properly inspect the largo number
OF persons who arrive daily Castle Garden during
tho immigrant season with the facilities afforded.
The testimony taken upon the subject of pauper i'm
migration conclusvely shows that there thousands
of alien paupers, insane persons and idiots annually
| landed in this country, who become burden and
| charge upon tho states where they happen TO gain
settlement many Of whom aided and assisted to
on grate by tho officials OF the country whence they
came. AS inspection Is made of immigrants along
| tho border between Canada and the United States
large numbers Of alien paupers, insane persons and
Others no; lawfully entitled enter the United States
by this way. tho number during SIX months being es-
| timated at 10000
The report rccites testimony to show that GRIM
nals arc shipped to the United States by officials OF
foreign governments, association for this purpose
existing in Germany and the officials Of Great Britain
and Switzerland have persisted in THIS course, e'en
after having been requested by Government to
discontinue it.
OF the contract labor law the report says thai IL
IS easily ovadod, and, to largo extent, In spirit
while the letter is usually observed. The committee
believes that tho enforcement Of all acts to regulate
immigration should be entrusted to tho Federal Gov
eminent and not to tho states.
| IN he NJ mi
mitec. after speaking fayoraby of its benefits in the
past, says
| From the inquiry we have made believe that the
! time has to draw the line Take the
class OF persons known Anarchists, for instance
This class Of persons the Judgment of the committee
ought 10 be rgIdy excluded from entering this country
Generally speaking the class OF immigrants VINO have
lately been imported employed in the coal regions Of
this country such, in the opinion of the commit
tee, would make desirable inhabitants Of the United
States. =.
The agents steamship companies in portions OF Eu
rope have been active in inducing encouraging and stnu
Eating immigration TO this country through false repre-
sensations.
Tho report condemns the practice which has pre-
vailed among certain foreigners resident in this coun-
try Of importing men for tho purpose Of contracting
them railroad works. and keeping them In almost
abjcct slavery. Reference is also made TO the daily
crossing into the United States Of Canadian iaborers,
It being shown that about 500 Canadian carpenters
daily labor IN Detroit, while the same number OF
Americans lie idle for lack OF employment
The bill proposes In its first section TO prohibit tho
admission into the United States OF any person who
| is an IDIOT insane, paupcr, or liable to become q
public charge, or who has been legally convicted OF
felony, other infamous crime, misdemcanor involv
| ing moral turpitude or who Is a polygamst, An
archst or Socialist who is afflicted with any oah-
some disease who has entered into contract, eN-
press implied, oral written to perform labor or
service for any person, firm, company or corporation
in the United States doing business therein or
whose passage is paid on promise to labor 1t also
provides that allen laborers, other than those ex-
cepted by the contraclabor law shall not be admitted
labor for limited time with the intention OF re
turning Tho section excerpts professors In uni
versities and minister's from its prohibition
Tho second section declares It to be a nisdemeanor
for such Objectionable persons to come into the United
states for any person TO assist them so to do, and
a penalty OF not exceeding $1,000 and imprisonment
for three years is provided in such cases. Prosecu-
ton may be begun within two years after the COM
mission Of the offence and the alien may be returned
within two years to his country at the expense OF the
tran .porlatOn company or Of the United States.
Section three limits the carriage Of incoming foreign
passengers passenger for every five tons bur
den OF the ship excepting children under one year in
ace and counting those between and eight years
OF age as one passenger Violation OF the provision
Is made punIshable by fine Of not exceeding $500
for each passenger In excess of the allowance.
The fourth section proposes TO levy tax OF 70 on
10 he paid to the Collector at the nearest port by the
TRANSFORMATION agent or master of Dlplo-
matte representatives consuls agents OF foreign
Governments arc excepted This section also creates
a permanent annual appropriation to defray the ex-
pcnscs OF the execution of tho act
Section five requires Intending immigrant 10 the
United States to possess q certificate from United
States diplomatic Representatives consul, near his
residence issued after examination into his character,
without fee but this certificate is not be conclusive
evidence Of tho right Of the person TO come into the
United States, relieve masters OF vessels or
responsibility.
The sixth section requires the masters OF vessels
and officers OF railroad trains coming into the United
state, to report the Collector of the port or his
agent the number, nationality and condition OF foreign
passengers. The Governments officer Is then 10 board
pare their certificates Passengers may be Ianded
temporarily awaiting inspection, and the only appeal
FROM the Collectors decision shall be TO the Secretary
of the Treasury In the seventh and eighth sections
tho Secretary OF tho Treasury IS charged with the duty
of supervising immigration; authorized TO make rules
and contracts and employ assistants, not 10 exceed
three inspectors at ono port, at salary OF between
1 500 and 1000, and to use United States property
and reservations. Tho last section vests full juts-
dctIon in United States Circuit and District Courts
I'm all causes arising under tho act which is TO take
effect on July next -
committee in regard to either the report submitted
ar o the bill presented In minority report he states
that ne Il opposed to head tax of moro than S1 for
carb Immigrant lilo also dlsagrecs with the majority
hcr ~ Messengers each 100 tons of tho vessel
veyng the immigrants, considering as he does that
,bs safeguars Of tho present law are sufficient Mr.
Sninola declares HIS opposition to the passage OF any
law that viii In any way check or stop the influx OK
honCat immigration
THE ALLEGED ABUSES IN ALASKA