The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-09-06
FOREIGN Labor Contracts.

Foreign Labor Contr2ce0.
It las been a custom with some OF our
large farmers when in need Of help. to
take a run down to Winnipeg to engage
men. During the last ten days an en-
ployment Office in Winnipeg, run by
one j. Allen, has been hiring men
and sending them across the line via the
N. P. & NJ. and the NJ. &M. roads. Over
a half dozen have been stopped the last
few days by the customs authorities at
this port, and those not willing to become
American subjects were sent back to
Winnipeg. To show how and why these
transactions are carried on we will give
two cases that came to light Thursday and
Friday of last week: One day two ap-
parently good workingmen, were taken
into the customs Office and examined.
They produced written contract signed
by the aboyc-named employment agent,
to work OH certain farm short distance
from here, for two months, at 81 per day.
The next day two others appeared, with
contracts in pocket, to be employed in
same vicinity, the same length of time. at
Sl.75 per day. The two former bolted
their contracts and hired out to Mr.. G. A.
Booker, after the customs law had been
complied with, at double the contract fig
ures.
From the stories told by the men aud
various wages agreed to BIZ paid them,
it is probable the Winnipeg office is do
ing some snide work and knowingly vic.
lates the laws of the United States.
This has been practiced to a greater or
less extent for years back. as farmers can
find plenty of men in Winnipeg willing
to work for less than what they have to
pay for help from the American side,
evading detection. The U. s. statutes on
this point are very strict, and the penal
ty for contracting for labor OIL the other
side of the line to be done OH this side
are very severe, and the customs officials
are determined to see the same enforced.
For the benefit of our readers We give
part of the law OIL this subject:
Enacted by congress, approved, Feb
ruary 90, 1885: That from and after the
passage of this act it shall DO unlawful
for any person, company, partnership. or
corporation, i'll any manner whatever, to
prepay the transportation, or in any way
assist or encourage the importation or
migration of any alien or aliens, any for
eigner or foreigners. into the United
States, its Territories, Or the District OF
Columbia, under contract or agreement,
parol Or special. express or implied.
made previous to the importation or mi.
grafton of such alien or aliens. foreigner
or foreigners, to perform labor or service
of any kind in the United States, its Ter.
ritories, or the District of Columbia.
SEC. 2. That all contracts or agreements
express Or implied, parol or special,
which may hereafter be made by and
between any person, company, partner.
shipper corporation. and any foreigner OF
foreigners, alien or aliens, to perform III.
Dor or service, Or having reference to the
performance of labor OF service by any
person in the United States, its Territor.
les or the District of Columbia previous to
the migration or importation of the per.
son or persons whose labor or service is
contracted for into the United States
shall be uttercly void and of no effect.
SEC. 3. That for every violation of any
of the provisions of section one of this act
the person, partnership, company. cor
poration violating the same, by know.
ingly assisting, encouraging or soliciting
the migration or importation Of any alien
or aliens, foreigner or foreigners, into the
United States, its Territory, Or tho Dis
trict of Columbia, TO perform labor or ser.
vice of any kind under contract or agree
ment, express or implied, parol or
special, with such alien or aliens, for
eigner or neutrality-suspicious. to becoming
q resident or citizen OF the United
States shall forfeit and pay for every such
offence the sum of one Thousand dollars,
which may be sued for and recovered hy
the United States or by any person who
shall first bring action, therefore includ-
ing any such alien or foreigner who may
be u party to any such contract or agree
mcnt, as debts of like amount are now
recovered in the circuit court of the Uni.
ted States; the proceeds to he paid into
the Treasury of the United States; and
separate suit may be brought for cacl,
alien or foreigner being party to such
contract or agreement aforesaid. And
it shall be the duty Of the district attor-
ncy of proper district to prosecute every
such suit ut the expense of the United
States,