Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-29
THE ALIEN LABOR LAW.

Congress will undoubtedly be asked
to amend the alien labor law, AS 1t has
been interpreted it has gone far be-
yond what even its most ardent advo-
Gates designed, and is keeping out OF
this country the class OF emigrants who,
OF all others, are least to be feared.
The construction that has been placed
upon it in several noticeable cases by
the treasury officials was doubtless COM
PEELED by the terms of the law, but none
the less those subjected TO it have been
caused unjustifable annoyance and
hardship and the country brought into
ridicule.
The treasury department has just de-
cided case under this law which illus
trates the necessity OF amending 1t. 1t
was the case OF an expert bookkeeper
brought over by firm OF hardware ex-
porters in New York. The firm has its
chief Office in London, and some time
ago one of the members OF the firm
came over to investigate affairs in the
New York Office. One Of his first acts
was to send for the London bookkeeper
of the firm, whose knowledge Of the
business was essential to the proper in
vestigation of affairs on this side, and
who furthermore had the full conf
dence of the firm. The old bookkeerer
promptly lodged complaint with the
collector at New York against the new
conner, and the official decided that he
came to this country as an alien con-
tract laborer in violation of law. An
appeal was taken to the secretary Of
the treasury, who has just rendered a
decision sustaining that Of the collector.
Only a few days ago an Englishmau
went to Washington to consult the
secretary OF the treasury as to
whether he would be permitted
under the law to bring over a
brother and several nephews whom
he desired to employ in his
business in order to give them chance
to establish themselves in this country.
He is said to have gone away from
Washington with the conviction that in
order to carry out his plan of benefit
| ting his relatives he must do so surrep-
titously. The most notable case, per-
haps, under this law is that of the rec
tor OF Holy Trinity church in New
York, whose contract to preach was de-
cided to be violation of the law.
This decision was sustained in the fed
| eral court and fine imposed upon
the church. An appeal was taken,
and the case, we believe, is
to be passed upon by the supreme court.
Obviously law that admits of such
an Interpretation ought to be changed.
| It is said that many eminent lawyers in
congress, when it was suggested that
clergymen and professors would be shut
out of the country under the operation
| of the law, laughed at the idea, but it
is difficult to see how they could put any
other Interpretation upon it, since the
classes exempt from its operation
are specially enumerated, and cler-
gymen and professors are not among
them. Recently the British minister
state to the operation of the law in ex.
Guiding persons residing across the
border in Canada from employment in
the United States, which he spoke of as
hardship. The Canadian government
has threatened retaliation if our gov.
ernment adheres to its policy. 1t is moi
questionable that the law needs mate.
rial notifications, and it Is said the sec
retary of the treasury will ask the pres
ident to urge upon congress the neces
sity Of amending it so as to obviate is
sues of the character referred to with,
out destroying the prime purpose of the
law, which was to prevent the whole
sale importation of contract labor tina
had oeen carried on before It's enact
ment by manufacturers and other large
employers of labor.