The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-12-11
EMIGRATION TO BE RESTRICTED.
Another Lodge Bill which ia q Natural
Supplement to the Mckinley Bill.

tiOu Que6CiOu 10 HOW COuCcucu 10 De Ouo
Of the most important confronting the
people Of the United States, we think
that some such measure as that proposed
by Mr.. Henry Cabot Lodge will be nee.
essary to place proper restriction upon
immigration. This measure which Mr..
Lodge will introduce in Congress early
in this season, provides in the first
section for the exclusion from this
country OF any person obnoxious to its
laws, including those who come under
the alien contract labor law; in the sue.
ceeding sections it is provided that each
immigrant must obtain from q United
States Consul or diplomatic representa-.
tive certificate, which shall attest that
the prospective immigrant is of good
character, not obnoxious to the laws of
the United States, selfsupporting, not
assisted by charity or otherwise to emf.
CRATE, able to read and write in his
native language, and to read the Consti-
tuition of the United States, either in his
native language, or in English that he
is mentally and physically sound accord
ing to medical certificate; that these
certificates must be presented to the
court when the immigrant appears for
naturalization papers; that all certif-
Gates must BE- recorded and indorsed by
port officers before being returned to
the immigrant; that immigrants shall
not be taxed beyond small fee for Ger.
tiicates; that steamship companies or
other transport alton companies shall pay
So for each immigrant imported, so as to
provide fund for the enforcement of
the law, and that transportation COM
panies shall return at their own expense
all immigrants brought here contrary to
the law, and shall besides be liable to
fine for disobedience of the law.
This naturally viii. be regarded as an
iron. clad measure and will be obnoxious
abroad. 1t will. in event oil its passage
and enforcement, exclude thousands of
immigrants, and will impose higher
rate at transportation upon immigrants,
because the steamship companies will
not pay the five dollars per capita tax
without collecting that amount from the
passengers 1t would give our consuls
and diplomatic representatives more TO
do, and would also impose additional
duties upon the port officers in this
country.
But if the proposed law goes into
effect it will almost solve the question
OF immigration, because undesirable
people will not be admitted through its
restrictions. The ignorant. the vicious
and worthless immigrants would have to
receive the Consul's certificate, and that,
with honest officials, will be hard to OBJ.
tain. 1t would place the control of i'm.
migration practically in the hands of the
consular service, and the members of
that body can be held responsible for
their judgment in immigration cases. 1t
would simply require that all who are to
come to America shall be people fit to
be citizens. Therefore it would exclude
no one worthy of the honor of allying
their fortunes with the great republic.
During the last year the greatest mum.
Der of immigrants came from Great
Britain and Ireland, Germany, Italy,
Austria Hungary, Sweden and Norway
and Russia, in the order named. The
number arriving at the six principal
ports of the United States during the
ten months ending October 81, last, was
427, ,666, against 37S, l40 during the same
period in 1889. The greatest increases of
immigration were from Italy and Aus.
tria, Hungary
The brief statietical statements exhibit
what effect such bill as Mr.. Lodge pro.
poses would have. 1t would not shut
out the foreign element to be desired,
but would cut off the largely increasing
percentage of Italians and Hungarians.
It would not, to any great degree, ex.
clude the good stock that comes from
England, Ireland, Germany and the
Scandinavian peninsula, butit would Gull
even that immigration.
We think the proposed bill good one
in many ways and consider that in its
provisions or something resembling
them, will be found the key TO the i'm.
migration difficulty.
When considering the immigration
question it must be remembered by all
that under the present conditions it is
easier to acquire citizenship in America
than in any country in the world. And
furthermore, it must be known that q
large proportion of those who thus &C
quire citizenship become American citi-
xens only in name.-Columbus Dispatch.
Washington Mclean.
Hon. Washington Mclean, the father
of Jno. R. Mclean and formerly pro-