Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-01-31
TO KEEP OUT PAU?ERS.
A Bill Providing for q Strict Inspee-
ton and Tax of So per Head.

A Bill Providing for Strict Inspee-
ton and a Tax of So per Head
Representative Ford has presented the
report OF his special committee to tho
house. IL was accompanied by a bill to
regulate immigration, which was offered as
a substitute Cor the Ford and Oats bills
regulating immigration Tho bill levies q
tax of So u head on aliens coming into the
United States, excepting diplomatic repre-
sentatives. Immigrants are 10 DO inspect
ed at all ports OF entry. The secretary Of tho
treasury is charged with the duty OF super
vising immigration; TO establish such rules
aud regulations as he may deem proper for
the landing of passengers and to protect
them from imposition. The bill prohlb Ia
the admission into this country or idiots,
lunatics, paup rs persons convicted Of
crime, afflicted with certain discusses, or I'M
der contract or agreement to do labor.
The report that accompanies the bill was
drawn by Mr.. Ford. 1t gives u summary
OF the work done by the committee IN New
York, Boston, Pittsburg asd DetrOi,. OF
the work of the committee at Detroit and
along the Cam ldian border tho report says:
along the border between Canada and tho
United States no inspection whatever ~
nude OF immigrants; and alien pauperS-
inst ne persons. etc, may land at Quebec
aud AZ once proceed to this country without
any let or hindrance. Tho number Of per-
sons not lawfully entitled 70 land in the
United States who thus arrive in this coun-
try by way OF tie 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 10 Quebec
have, within forty eight hour after their
arrival there, been applicants for shelter ia
the aims houses Of the state Of New York.
At many points along the border no account
whatever is kept OF the numCer OF immi-
grants arriving, 50 that . would DO u diff
If - NstNA mi asN
tho number arriving in the United
States whose landing on this CONT
nent was first etfeUtcd in Cana6l, but from
information submitted 10 them the commit
tee believe that for the six months ending
July 20, 1853, there were about 5O,OJO such
immigrants who arrived here by way of
Canada, many of whom. by reason Of boing
puupers, idiots and insane persons, were
not lawfully en- tiled TO land. The Chari-
table institutions IN the county of Wayne
Mich Of whiCl Detroit is the principal
port, are filled TO overhoWing, ana tho
county has now in process of erection an
aims house at a large expense. Sigmuu1
Simon testified before the committee that
this state of affairs was owing entirely 70
the alien immigrants coming from Canada.
whom the county is forced TO take care OK,
and that were IL not Tor the alien panpers
who are supported by the county no in
creased facilities would be demanded.
Along the frontier bordering upon Con
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, II was uscertaned that a great many
aliens are so employed, notably in the
| bui ding trades. Tue testimony shows that
! about 800 carpenters and ioinCrs, subjects
! of Great Britain, perform labor In that
| city, and that about the same number of
American citizens of that occupation are
| II.
! ployment.n
Speaking of Castle Garden tho report
says: 1.-The committee visited Castle Gar
| den on several occasions and witnessed tho
| arrival and inspection of immigrants, aud
| Il was very obvious to them that it was
almost impossible to properly inspect tho
barge number Of persons who arrived daily
during the immigrant season, with tho
| facilities afforded, and the testimony taken
puts it beyond question that large numbers
of person not lawfully entitled 10 land ia
the United States are ANNUALLY received ut
4 this port. in fact, one of the commission
ors of immigration himself test fed that
| the local administration Of affairs at Castle
Garden, by the method and system now
fol owed, was perfect farce"
The committee further says: ITO any
person familiar with the results Of the com
| mittees invests CATION 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 20 uphold and ma ntain our forms OF
government. Their object and purpose "
10 destroy and tear il 10 pieces. This class
of persons, in the Judgment OF the commit
tee, ought TO be rigidly excluded from en-
terng this country" The report
! goes on TO say that GENERALLY
speaking, the class of immigrants 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, thoir
customs are disgusting, and tho effect
of their presence here upon our social con-
dtion is TO be deplored. They have been
brought here in such numbers, and have
boon employed at such low wages, that It
has resulted in their replacing tho Ameri-
can citizen who formerly performed this
class of LABOR"
Gen. Spinola submitted q minority report.
He opposes the head tax OF IS as favored by
Mr. Ford and other members of the oom-
mittee On some other minor details he
also disaRrees with the majority.