The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-20
They Propose Tax of S. on Aliens and Sug-
gest Several Other Measures to Prevent
the Landing of Objectionable Persons.
The First Vote on the Senate Tariff Bill
Will Be Taken on Tuesday Next.
Speculation as to the Probable Fate of the Bill
in the House-The Yice-President- Elect
Preparing for His New Duties.
RESTRICTIONS ON IMMIGRATION.


by the Ford committee on contract labor
and immigration to the House to-day, as a
result of the Investigation of last summer
and fall, proposes in its first section topro-
hibit the admission, into the United States
of any person who is an idiot. insane, a
pauper, or liable to become public charge,
or who has been legally convicted of a
felony, other infamous crime or misde-
meanor involving moral turpftude. or who
is a polygamist, Anarchist or Socialist or
whois afflicted with any loathsome disease,
or who has entered into contract. express
or implied, oral or written, to perform
labor or service for any person, firm, cof9-
pany or corporation in the United States
doing business therein, or whose passage is
paid on promise of labor. Italso provides
that alien laborers other than those ex-
cepted by the contract labor law shall not
be admitted to labor for a limited time
with the intention of returning. The sec
tiOn excepts professors in universities and
ministers from its prohibition.
The second section declares it to be mis-
demeanorf for such Objectionable persons TO
come into the United States, or for any per-
son to assist them so to do, and penalty
not exceeding $1,000 and imprisonment for
three years is provided in such cases. Pros
ecution may be commenced within two
years after the commission of the offense,
and the alien may be returned within two
years to his country, at the expense of the
transportation company or of the United
States.
Section three limits the carriage of in
y1a caIlO IN mn
for every five tons burden of the ship, ex-
cepting children under one year of age. and
counting those between one and eight years
of age as one passenger: Violation of the
provision is made punishable by fine not
exceeding $500 for each passenger in excess
of the allowance.
The fourth section proposes to levy tax
of So on every alien coming into the United
States, which is to be paid to the collector
at the nearest port by the transportation
agent or master of the vessel. Diplomatic
representatives, consuls or agents of for
eign governments are excepted. This sec
ton also creates permanent annual appro-
priation to. defray the expenses OF the
execution of the act.
Section 5 requires an intending emil
grant to the United States to possess a GER
tiicate from a United States diplomatic
representative or consul near his residence,
issued after examination into his character,
without fee; but this certificate is not TO be
conclusive evidence of the right of the per-
son to come into the United States. nor re-
lieve masters of vessels of responsibility.
sells and officers of railroad trains coming
into the United States to report to
the collector of the port or his
agent the number, nationality and
condition of foreign passengers. Fhe gov
ernment officer is then to board the vessel
or train, inspect the passengers and COM
pare their certificates. Passengers may be
landed temporarily, awaiting inspection,
and the only appeal from the collectors
decision shall be to the Secretary of the
Treasury.
In the seventh and eighth sections the
Secretary of the Treasury is charged with
the duty of supervising immigration; au-
thOrized to make rules and contracts and
employ assistants, not to exceed three in
spectors at any one port, at a salary OF be-
tween 81 500 and S4 900, and TO use United
States property and reservations
The last section vests full jurisdiction in
United States circuit and district courts
in all causes arising under the act, which
is to take effect July / next.
The report accompanying the bill says
that it was obvious to the committee that
it was almost impossible to properly in
spect the large number OF persons who ar
rive at Castle Garden, New York, daily
during the immigration season, with the
facilities afforded, and the testimony taken
puts it beyond question that large numbers
of persons 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.
On the subject of immigration generally.
| the committee, after speaking favorably of
| its benefits in the past, stated. that, from
| the inquiry they have made they believe
| that the time has now come to draw the
line, to select the good from the
T"n be and abo to To st nersoe soe aas mhfa
with the results of the committees investi-
| CATION it must be apparent that this conn
| try cannot properly assimilate the immi-
| grafton now coming, to our shores. Iake
| the class of persons known as Anarchists,
for instance. A few years ago they princi:
| pally lived in Germany. The officials of
that empire determined to get rid of them.
| Their newspapers were suppressed; they
| were forbidden to hold meetings: they were
| prosecuted in different ways until Germany
| became an unpleasant abiding place. for
| them. They then emigrated to England
in large numbers. but the officials there
made it so uncomfortable for them that
they came to the United States. Here they
have proven a lawless, turbulent class. and
| the whole country is familiar with their re-
cent acts of violence. These disorderly
| persons do not come here to uphold
and maintain our form OF government.
Their object and purpose is TO destroy
and tear it TO pieces. They hold any law
| in contempt which does not meet with
their individual appreciation and believe
disobedience to it is perfectly justifiable.
| This class of persons, in the Judgment OF
the committee ought to be rigidly excluded
from entering this country. 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 a very low order of in
tel.igence; they do notcome here with the
intention of becoming citizens, their
whole purpose being toaccumulate. by par
simonious, rigid, and unhealthy economy a
sum of money and thsn return TO their
native land. They live in miserable sheds
like beasts; the Sood they. eat is
so meager. scan, unwholesoms,
and revolving. tlat it would
nauseate and disgust an American work
man. and he would findit difficult 10 sus-
tain life upon il. Their habits are vicious,
| their customs are disgusting, and the effect
of their presence here upon our social con-
dition is to be deploree. They have not
| the influences. as we understand them, OF
a home; they do not know what the woro
| means, and, in the opinion of the COMMITTEES.
| no amount Of effort would improve their
morals or .Americanizep this class or I'M
migrants. They have teen brought here
in such numbers, and hare been employ cd
at such low wages, thatf has resulted IN
| their replacing the American citizens VINO
formerly performed this lass OF labor, un'