The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-01-20
ON CONTRACT LABOR.
The Bill Reported to the
House.
COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION.
Some Wholesome Measures Recon-
mended-To Prohibit the Adnnis-
sion of idiots, Criminals. Etc.

reported by Ford. from the committee
on contract labor and immigration, to
the House to-day, proposes to prohibit
admission into the United States OF any
idiot, insane, pauper or any one liable
to become public charge or who has
been legally convicted of felony, other
infamous crime, or misdemeanor, in
volving moral turpitude. or who is
polygamist, Anarchist or Socialist, or
afflicted with any loathsome disease, or
has entered into contract, express or
implied, oral or written. to perform
labor or service for any person, firm,
company or corporation in the United
States CT any State therein, whose pass
age is paid on the promise OF labor. 1t
also provides that alien Iaborers, other
than those excepted by the contract
labor law, shall not be admitted to
labor for limited time with the inten-
lion of returning. The section excerpts
professors in universities and ministers,
and proposes to levy tax of S. on
every alien coming into the United
States, to be paid by the transportation
agent. The Secretary OF the Treasury
is charged with she duty of
SUPERVISING IMM1GR ALTON.
The report is accompanied by bill,
with the details OF the Investigation of
the committee at various points, and
the conclusions reached. Among other
things the report says as no inspec-
ton is made of immigration along the
border of the United States large
number of alie1s, paupers and insane
persons and others not lawfully fitted
to enter, come into the United States
by this way, the number during the
past six months being estimated at So
GOO. Criminals are shipped to the
United States by officials of foreign
governments, and they persist in this
coarse after being requested by our
government to discontinue it. or the
contract labor law the report says it is
evaded to large extent in spite of The
law
CHINESE IMMIGRATION
was not investigated for the lack of
time on the subject of immigration
generally. The committee, after speak
ing favorably of its benefits in the past,
say that from the inquiry they have
made they believe the time has now
come to draw line to select the good
from the bad and sjft the wheat from
the chaf, To any person familiar with
the results Of the committees invest
igation, it must be apparent that this
country cannot assimilate the immiera.
ton now coming to our shores. The
report condemns the practice which
has prevailed among certain foreign
residents in this country of importing
men for the purpose of contracting
them on railroad works and keeping
them in state of almost abject slavery.
In conclusion, the committee SAYS:
Certainly the efforts of
THE PRESENT UNRESTRICTED IMMIGRATION,
as applicable to the conditions under
consideration upon the industrial stu
alton of this country has been very
bad. The committee believe the time
will come when tho immigration law
should be more effectively regulated;
that persons who immirrate to the
United States should at least be com
posed Of those who in good faith desire
to become citizens and are worthy to be
such. Spinola does not agree with the
majority In the minority report he
states that he is opposed to a head tax
of more than 81 for each immigrants
He says the minority is prepared to go
any length in the advocacy of proper
in order to shut out
p.uppps 1uN.rrCs 1n1ors cprppYrS
and thieves, as well as all eyildoers,
who come to practice their wickedness
and fill our pc r-houses and prisons,
but declares his unqualified opposition
to the passage OF the law that will ia
any way check or stop the influx OF
severe on Anarchists and like agita ors.
1t says. in part: These dirorderly peo-
pie do not come here to uphold and
object and purpose is to destroy and
contempt which does not meet with
their individual appreciation, and be-
lieve their opposition to it is perfectly
justifable. This class of persons, in
the judgment of the committee, ought
TO BE RIGIDLY EXCLUDED
from entering the country. Generally
speaking, the class of immigrants who
lately have been imported and en-
ployed in the coal mines in this country
are not suoh as would make desirable
inhabitants of the United States, in the
opinion of the committee. They are of
q very low order of intelligence; they
do not come here with the intention of
becoming citizens: their purpose being
to accumulate, by parsimonious un-
healthy economy, and then return to
their native land The food they eat is
meagre, unwholesome and revolving;
it would nauseate and disgust an
American w0rkingman, and he would
find it. difficult to sustain life on it.
Their habits are vicious.
THEIR CUSTOMS DISGUSTING
and the effect of their presence upon
our social. condition is to be deplored.
They have not theinfuence OF home;
they do not know what the word m cans,
and in the opinion of the committee, no
amount of effort would improve their