Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-25
TO KEEP OUT PAUPERS.
A Bill Providing for Strict Inspec.
ton and a Tax of So per Head.

A Bill Providing for Strict Inspec.
ton and Tax OF So per Head.
Representative Ford has presented the
report of his special committee TO the
house. 1t was accompanied by bin to
regulate immigration, which was offered as
a substitute for the Ford and Oats bills
regulating immigration. The bill levies
tax OF 50 head on aliens coming into the
United States, excepting diplomatic repre-
sentatlves. Immigrants are TO be inspect
ed at all ports OF entry. The secretary of the
treasury IS charged with the duty of super
vising immigration; to establish such rules
and regulations as he may deem proper for
the landing OF passengers and TO protect
them from imposition. The bill prohibits
the admission into this country or idiots
lunatlcs, paupers, persons convicted of
crime, afflicted with certain diseases, or I'M
der contract or agreement TO do labor
The report that accompanies the bill was
drawn by Mr.. Ford. IL gives "A summary
OF the work done by the committee In New
York, Boston, Pittsburg and Detroit. OF
the work OF the committee at Detroit and
along the Canadian border the report says:
along the border between Canada and the
United States no inspection whatever is
| made or immigrants; and alien paupers.
insane persons. etc, may land at Quebec
aud at once proceed TO this country without
| any let or hindrance. The number of per-
| sons not lawfully entitled to land in the
United States who thus arrive in this coun-
try by way OF the Canadian frontier is rap
idly assuming large proportions, and has
| become matter OF serious contemplation.
The testimony shows that in many instances
immigrants coming by steam to Quebec
have within forty-eight hour after their
| arrival there, been applicants for shelter in
the aims houses OF the state of New York.
AT many points along the border no account
whatever is kept of the numDer of imm-
grants arriving, so that ii would be diff
.n
the number arriving in the United
States whose landing on this conti-
| nent was first effected in Canada, but from
| information submitted TO them the commit
| tee believe that for the six months ending
| July 30, 1883, there were about 80 600 such
immigrants who arrived here by way of
| Canada, many of whom, by reason of being
| paupers, idiots and insane persons, were
not lawfully entitled TO land. The chart
| table institutions in the county of Wayne,
| Mich of which Detroit is the principal
| port, are filled To overlooking, and the
county has now in process of erection an
aims house at large expense Sigmund
| Simon testified before the committee that
this state of affairs was owing entirely to
the alien immigrants coming frcm Canada,
whom the county is forced to take care of,
and that were il not for the alien paupers
who are supported by the county no in
creased facilities would be demanded.
"Along the frontier bordering upon Can
ada il is the practice of aliens to perform
| labor in the United States, coming over in
the morning and returning 10 Canada in the
evening. At Detroit, in the state of Michi-
| gan, IL was ascertained that a great many
| aliens are so employed, notably in the
building trades. The testimony shows that
about 800 carpenters and joiners, subjects
| Of Great Britain, perform labor in that
( city, and that about the same number of
| American citizens OF that occupation are
| DpeanSp
| ployment.n
Speaking of Castle Garden the report
says: 1.-THE committee visited Castle Gar
den on several occasions and witnessed the
arrival and inspection of immigrants, and
| il was very obvious TO them that IL was
| almost impossible 10 properly inspect the
| large number of persons who arrived daily
| during the immigrant season, with the
| facilities afforded, and the testimony taken
| puts IL beyond question that large numbers
of person not lawfully entitled to land in
the United States are annually received at
this port. In fact, one, OF the commission
| ers of immigration himself testified that
the local administration of affairs at Castle
| Garden, by the method and system now
! followed, was perfect farce.
The committee further says: ITO any
| person familiar with the results of the com
| mittee's investigation il must be apparent
| that this country cannot properly assimil-
ate the immigration now coming to our
| Shores
Respecting anarchists the report says:
''These disorderly persons do not come
| here TO uphold and ma ntain our forms OF
| government. Their object and purpose is
| to destroy and tearit to pieces. This class
of persons, in the judgment of the commit
tee, ought 10 be rigidly excluded from en-.
tering this country" The report
| goes on to saw that generally
speaking, the class ofimmigrants who have
lately been imported and employed in the
| coal regions of this country are not such,
| in the opinion of the committee, as would
make desirable inhabitants of the United
| States They are of very low order of
| intelligence. Their habits are vicious, their
customs are disgusting, and the effect
of their presence here upon our social con-
dition is 10 be deplored. They have been
brought here in such numbers and have
been employed at such low wages. that IL
| has resulted in their replacing the Ameri-
can citizen who formerly performed this
class of labor"
Gen. Spinola submitted minority report
| He opposes the head tax OF s. as favored by
| Mr.. Ford and other members OF the com
mittee. On some other minor details he
| also disagrees with the majority.