The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-28
While Permitting Undesirable Glasses to Land
on Our Shores 1t Proves Bar to Those
Who Would Make Good Citizens.
How Our Trade Relations with South
American States May Be Benefited.
The President and Southern Republicans
Probability that the Senate Will Ratify the
Samoan Treaty-Chinese IN the Navy.


It Bars Out the Immigrant= We Need and
Permits Less Desirat Ones to Land.
Special to the Indianapolis nnd
WASHINGTON. JUL he indications
point 10 a speedy atte An Congress to
change the demagogi allen contract-la-
Dor law. The latest action Of the depart
ment in constituting the measure is to hold
that an Englishman who came to this coun-
try for the purpose of accepting book
keepers position in the Office of a firm of
Englishmen in New York is barred by the
act, and that he must be sent back. The
act. in its inception. was sensible
and good, but it was passed for the
purpose Of catching the labor vote of the
country at the time when such men as
Tarsney. of Michigan, and ONeil, OF Mis-
souri,, were posing as the Democratic cham
pions of all that was good for the labor in
terests of the country. 1t was never thor
oughly considered and no attempt as made
to tell in advance what its scope would be.
It seems now that under the constructions
of the department. during the last and the
present administration it can be used to
bar out the most desirable class of immi-
grants, while permitting the undesirable
classes to enter without trouble.
country great many years, who has built
up an extensive business in New York, was
here to-day. Part of his business was to
consult the department aS to whether he
would be permitted to bring some of his
relatives to this country. He said that be
had brother over on the other side, and
several nephews. He desired TO give these
young fellows a chance to become good
American citizens, and wanted to offer them
places in his establishment. He went back
would not be allowed to bring the boys
over unless he does SO surreptitlously. The
Treasury officials are disgusted with the
law in its present shape. and it is said that
Secretary Window will ask the President
to strongly urge upon Congress the neces-
sity for materially amending the present
act.
Acting Secretary Bachelor has written
letter to the collector of customs at Cape
Vincent, n. Y, in regard to the enforce
ment of the law, in which he says: The
law does not prohibit aliens or foreigners
from voluntary coming into this country
seeking for employment, and contracting
for work after their arrival here. One who
was an American citizen. but has Ibecome
naturalized citizen of another country is
an alien in the same sense of the law. As
to the case of an American citizen residing
in Canada. but without having
ins nto tSs 'heG country ana unaer GS
previous contract to labor-the
question as to this liability under the law
will be decided when a case is presented
with its facts and circumstances. In view
of the many complicated situations and
close business relations along the Canadian
line, which apparently were not contem-
plated or provided for by the law, it is pre-
ferred that they be submitted tofthe con-
sideration of Congress before needlessly
rigorous enforcement of the law, possibly
causing unnecessary hardship and financial
injury to American citizens"