New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-05
THE ALIEN coNTRAcr.LABoR LAW.

The chief purpose of this law the protection Of
labons by restricting the importation and
mm grafton of foreigners under contracts to labor
To ad In its execution, immigrant inspectors have
been stationed at the principal ports and at imporant
points our Canadian and Mexican frontiers. They
have rendered effective service, and considerable
number Of this prohibited class OF aborers have been
returned TO the country from whence they came.
The law undoubtedly Is often evaded by the landing
Of European contract laborers in foreign territory
tiguous 10 our own, whence they as well contract
aborers whose homes in such contiguous country
find ready access to the United States by railroads
Tho execution of the law is also impeded by the
difficulty of obtaining legal proof of the contract under
which these people seek admission into the country
1t IS believed that 1t stands has partially failed
OF fits purpose because of certain Inherent defects aud
OF It's features that cali for amendment
1t is doubtful If the amendment OF Octo6er,19 ieso
provides due process Of Law for the taking into custody
and the returning to the country from whence he came
Of prohibited person who has been permitted to land
or for the recovery OF the expense of his return.
Neither Is II obvious what good reason applies 10 the
admission into the country Of professional actors,
artists lecturers. and singers under contract. that
does not apply with equal force 10 ministers OF the
Gospel scientific men, and professors In colleges, whose
right to liko admission IS questioned or denied.
hamlet or communlt arc forbidden the ordinary con
tract relations of daily life and necessary business
sides OF the National boundary line The wisdom or
necessity OF the law In this regard Is not apparent
and IT'S enforcement IS manfestly mpracticable:
Compliant is made Of the hardshps OF the law in
case OF citizens OF Canada and Mexico, who arc
employed foreign ralOddS entering Nfr OHitSH
STATES Their employment as civil engineers, superln
tendents conductors. and brakemen: locomotive
otter capacities calls them more less frequently,
sometimes daily, into tho United States and IT Is
claimed they thus become amenable to the law
as worthy OF consideration.
CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT.
The existing laws for the exclusion OF Chinese
aborcrs from the United States have been vigorously
enforced by the officers of the customs TO the extent
trt.. I..k IL rEYn ttaa- n ~,
Union facilitate the clandesne introduction of such
persons from the contiguous territory Of British America
and Mexico.
1t is alleged that evasons Of the law this regard
are of a serious character The Department is employ.
ing the limited means a. command 10 prevent such
evasions but police these frontiers in such
completely suppress the influx Of prohibited
immigration will reI1iIe much greater force than
has been provided for. The attention Of Congress is
The results. of the practice of landing Chinese im-
migrants al the Pacific coast ports under bond, ami
by means of the process OF habeas corpus have been
such to attract the attention of the local officers
Of the customs at those ports, and to awaken their
an cNagccration to say that lucrative though Illicit
industry spung up in thosn ports. based upon an
means OF bribery, perjury. the sHulsnf of exorbta9t
fees, and other forms Of deception and fraud Chinese
and thus illegally added to the population of the
country
Comfortably to an opinion OF the Attorney Gcneral
that the transit Of Chinese laboiers from Ons foreign
place 10 another, through the territory Of the Unlei
states is permitted under the statute the eguiaons
here oforc governing such transit have been CONTINUED
hut have been strengthened in various particulars to
prevent their conversion 10 unlawful purposes.
INTERNAL REVENUE.
The report of the Commissioner of Internal Rev.ru.
herewith transmitted, presents in detail the condition
Of this branch OF the public service
The receipts from the several subjects OF tax,uo,
under the laws during the fiscal years
ended June 3d. 1858 and 1859, are follows :