Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-20
TO BE KEPT OUT
uHprn THE coNTRAcr-LABoR AND IN
MIGRATION BILL.
Enumeration Of Those who Are Not Wanted
Within the Boundaries Of the
United States.
nv ,o,srr.ph 10 the Dispa,cn.l

recommend the aoopuon OF tue i0'"'"'~
iust as II came from the Senate.
The bill reported by Mr.. Ford, OF Tue
Committee on Contract Labor and lmmigrs-
ton. 10 the House to-day AZ The result oil The
investigation OF last summer and fall, pro.
moses in its first section 10 prohibit the ad-
mission into the United States OF any per-
son who IL an idiot. insane. n psuper, or lia'
HE to become a public charge, or who has
been legally convicted Of felony, other INA
nous crime, or a misdemesnor, or VINO Il
PoIysamist, Anarchist, or socialist, or
who IA afflicted with any Ioathsome
disease. or who has entered into q
contract, expressed or implied, oral or
written, to perform labor or service
for any person, firm, company, or cofpoha-
ton 10 the United States or doing business
therein, or whose passage is PAID on Tue
nromj,e TO labor. II also provides that alien
i,horers other than those excepted by the con
tract.labor law shall not be admitted to labor
for a limited time with the intention OF re-
turning. The section excerpts professors In
universities and ministers from Its prohiDl-
ton.
The second section declares II TO be mis-
demesnor for such Objectionable persons 10
come 10 the United States or Tor any person
10 assist them so 10 dc, and penalty OF not
exceeding $1,000 and imprisonment Tor
three years is provided in such cases.
The third section limits the carriage OF In
coming foreign passengers TO one passenger
for every i've tons burden OF the ship, ex-
eepting children under one year ~ age. ana
counting those between one and eight years
of age a. one passenger. A violation OF the
provision IL made punishable by hne not
exceeding $500 for each passenger in excess
OF the allowance.
The fourth section proposes 10 levy tax
OF IS on every alien coming into the UaIted
States, which is 10 be paid 10 the collector al
the nearest port by the transportation agent
or master OF the vessel. Diplomatic repre-
sentatfyes, consuls, or agents Of foreign Gov
enmeuts are excepted. This section also
creates permanent annual appropriation to
dtfray the expenses OF the execution Of the
act.
The fifth section requires an Intending
smirrant TO tue United States 10 possess
certificate from the United States diplomatic
representative or Consul near his residence,
issued after examination int his character
without fee, but this certificate IL not TO be
conclusive evidence Of the right OF person
TO come int the United States or relieve mas
tiers Of vessels OF responsibility.
The sixth section requires the masters OF
vessels and officers OF railroad trains coming
into the United States to report TO the COZ
lector Of the port or bis agent the number,
nationality, and condition OF foreign passen'
gers. Tie Government officer is then 10
board the vessel or train, inspect the passen-
gers, aud compare their certificates. Inc
passengers may be landed temporarily await
ing inspection. aud the only appeal from the
collectors decision shall be TO the Secretary
OF the Treasury.
In the seventh aud eighth sections the
Secretary OF the Treasury ia charged with
the duty Of supervising immigration, au-
thoriZed 10 make rules and contracts. and
employ assistants not to exceed three III
spectors at any one port at n salary OF De-
tween 1900 and $4,000 and the use OF the
United States property and reservations.
The last section vests full jurisdiction in
the United States Court and district courts
In all causes arising under the act. which IS
10 take effect July lst next
The report accompanying the bill begins
with the recital OF the existing statutes upon
the subject OF convict and pauper labor and
immigr alton generally. IL says that the
COMMITTEES have had sessions IN New York,
Boston, Mass, Pittsburgh, Pa, and De-
iroit, Mich, A great many witnesses have
been sworn, and a largo amount OF testl-
nmOny has been taken, the result being the
demonstration that the existing laws aud
methods OF their enforcement entirely fail
OF their object.
The report reciies testimony 10 show that
psupers and criminals are shipped TO the
United States by the officials OF foreign
gOvernmenis-an association for this pur-
pose existing i'm Germany. The officials OF
Great Britain and switzerland have persisted
in this course, even alter having been re-
auested by our Government TO discontinue
4, 10 10 he
says that II Is rarely evaded to any extent IN
spirit, and the letter is usually observed.
The committee believe that the enforcement
OF all acts TO regulate immigration should he
Entrusted 10 the Federal Government snd
not TO the States. The Chinese immigration
was not Investigated for lack or time.
on the subject OF immigration generally
the committee, after speaking favorably OF its
benefits In the past says from the inquiry
they have made they believe that the time
has now come TO draw the line, 10 select the
good from The bad, and 10 slit the wheat from
the chat. To any person familiar with the
results Of the committees Investigation II
must he apparent that this country cannot
properly assimilate the immigration now
coming 10 our shores. Take the class OF per-
sons known as Anarchists, for instance. A
few years ago they principally lived IN
heTmanN. OiuCtdis VI lusb 'ihput NC-
termmed 10 get rid OF them. Their
newspapers were suppressed; they were
forbidden TO bold meetings; they were
prosecuted in different ways until Ger
many became an unpleasant abiding
place for them. They then immigrated 10
England ia large numbers, but the officials
there made II 20 uncomfortable for them that
they came to the United States. Here they
have proven lswless, turbulent class, and
the whole country Is familiar with their
recent acts OF violence. These dsorderly
persons do not come here 10 uphold and
maintain our form OF government. Their
object and purpose is TO destroy snd tear 1t
10 pieces. They hold any law In contempt
which does not meet with their Individual
appreciation, and believe disobedience TO II
Is perfectly iustiHAble. This class OF
persons, In the judgment OF the
committee, ought 10 be rigi lily exc
cuded from entering this country. Gen.
orally speaking, the class OF immigrants
who have lately been Imported and employ
cd In the coal regions Of this country arc not
such, In the opinion OF the committee, rs
would make desirable inhabitants Of the
United States. They are OF 4 very low order
of Intelligence. They do not come here with
the intention OF becoming citizens, their
whole purpose being 10 accumulate by parsi.
monious, rigid. and unhealthy economy some
money and then return 10 their native land.
They live Ia miserable sheds like beasts; The
food they eat il so meagre, scant, unwhoe-
some, and revolving that 1t would nauseste
and disgust an American workman, and
he would find il difficult 10 sustain life
upon II. Their habits are vicious. their
customs are Disgusting, aud the effect
OF their presence here upon our social
condition ~ TO be deplored. They have not
the influence. a. we understand them, OF a
home, aud they do not know what the word
means. aad, In the opinion OF the committee,
NO amount OF effort would improve their
morals or Americanize" this class OF ini-
migrant. They have been brought here In
such numbers and have been employed at
such low wages that 1t has resulted 10 their
replacing American citizens who formerly
performed this class OF labor until now there
are comparatively few Americans engaged In
mining coal ia Pennsylvania.
The agests OF steamship companIes in
portions OF Europe have been active in In
ducipg. encouraging. and stimulating i'm
migration 10 thls country through false
representations.
The report condemns the practice which
has prevailed among certain foreigners resi-
dent In this country OF imDorting meu for