Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-21
HAMILTON ON EMIGRATION.
The Surgeon General Gives the Results
of His Observations Abroad.

of His Observations Abroad.
NO SYSTEMATIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF EMI-
GRANTS At POINTS OF DECENTRALIZATION TO
KEEP The FOREIGN CRIMINAL CLASSES OUT OF
THIS coUSTRY-TMPoRTAST REPRESENTATIONS.
Surgeon General Hamilton has made a report
to the Secretary OF the Treasury giving the re-
suits of visits paid By him to the principal for
eign ports of embarkation of immigrants bound
for the United States. He visited the ports Of
Naples, London, Liverpool. Glasgow. Bremen.
Trieste and Hamburg, and found that there is
at present systematical medical examina-
ton Of emigrants at any port OF embarkation.
Some of the steamship lines. he says,
require their surgeons to make preliminary
examination, which. however, in no case
compares with the examination made at New
York by the officers OF the marine hospital
service, as the purposes are entirely different,
the purpose of tine steamship company being
to pass all that can be passed, while the pur-
poses OF the marine hospital inspection are to
report to the superintendent all cases that are
likely to become public charge from perma-
DeDt disability or present disease. 1t may be
positively asserted, without fear of successful
contradiction, that the immigrants bound to
the United States are not generally required to
undergo proper inspection.
CITIZENSHIP TOO CHEAP.
ton extends, and SO far as can learn from the
literature on the subject, there is no country
In the world IN which citizenship IL so cheaply
obtained as in the United States. The general
question OF restrictive measures against the
incoming mass Is one of the most important
that can be considered. whether viewed from
economic or political standpoint. And viewed
from an American standpoint there is no doubt
that the welfare of the country demands more
restrictive measures than the present laws
10 20 r--,, tlrn
sane persons and eleven idiots that were re-
ported by the medical officer in New York four
o. the insane and all of the idiots per-
mltted 10 land. The advocacy OF restrictions
upon immigration does not necessarily imply
hostility to foreigners. nor legislation adverse
to the interests OF those naturalIzed citizens
now In tins country. On the contrary. II is
believed TO be for the general interest of those
row on the soil. who, having been invested
with the rights of citizenship. are entitled to
all the protection that our laws can give; and it
Is in their interest not less than in that Of the
natural-born citizen that further influx OF per-
sons not bringing skilled labor or material
wealth to the country should be restricted. 1t
ought to be privilege to be an American citi-
Zen. and as naturalization is a gratuitous con-
cessIon to the immigrant, tho immigrant
should be of such character. morally, INTEL
Iectually and physically, as would make him a
more or less valuable addition to the body
polite. ard il would appear the least the i'm
migrant could do i'll return for this concession
would be to render cheerful obedience and
conformalty to the laws of his adopted coun-
try. But in many Instances this has not been
the experience. We witness, in New Orleans and
Chicago, for instance. the fact that certain
foreign nGtiOnalities insist in main tanning their
murderouS assassination societies. and putting
them IN practice on our own soil in CONTRA
yentiOn of our laws and the public peace, and
this leads irresiStlbly to the conclusion that the
Class of immigrants has changed from the
Classes OF former times. In looking through
the vast literature of this subject, contained
In various pubic documents, 1t Is found that
there Is a general rule regarding the fuctua-
hon OF immigration into this country, which
Is that the movement closely follows in its
elevations and depressions the material pros
perity OF the country.
THE CLASS OF EluGRANIs ENCOURAGED.
at is a fact that most foreign countries do
not encourage emigration to the United States,
or, If il Is encouraged. it is Of class they can
well afford to spare. During the last six years.
under the operations Of existing law, the vast
number of 2.G66, z7G immigrants have arrived
on our shores. The introduction of this vast
number of people into our political organiza-
ton, most OF whom are entirely ignorant of
our traditions, customs and laws, cannot be
viewed without concern and apprehension and
without making q suggestion looking to still
further restrictions. 1t is not unreasonable to
insist upon the most rigid construction of ex-
Isting laws in favor of those who are now here
not less than In the interest Of the natural
born citizen.
1T is the settled policy OF most foreign gov
ernments to encourage the emigration to their
own colonies OF such intending emigrants as
are desirable additions to the population, and
u Is believed at the present time that no gov
ernment IN Europe encourages emigration to
the United States. / was unable to find any
evidence OF assisted emigration except to
Canada, where, under certain circumstances,
the emlgrants are assisted. And as the influx
into the United States from Canada is less
closely watched than that from Europe direct
II Is possible that many OF these assisted emil
grants may md their way into the United States
through Canadian channels. 1t suggested
That the law be amended SO as to provide that
Hereafter any person intending to emigrate to
the United States shall produce to the United
States consul nearest him evidence from the
proper local authorities satisfactory to the con-
sui that he has not been convicted of any crime;
that he has not at any time been public charge
II the country where he lives. nor has he at any
time received public assistance. And further
That he also produce to the consul a certificate
from a legally qualified resident physician to
the effect that such emigrant is at the time suf-
ierlng from no contagious or chronic disease
or disability such as would make him public
charge That on the production of these GER
tlhcates to the consul that he shall issue to the
intending Immigrant his certificate to the effect
mat the foregoing evidence has been furnished
D. MIN and placed ON file at the consulate.
Ihls paper should also set forth whether the
immigrant intends to become a naturalized
citizen Of the IL I'd States or merely tenn
Iorary lnhabitaut, the certificate to be given
10 the immigrant and on his arrival in this
country taken up by the proper officer at the
port OF destination, this to be taken as pre-
sumptive evidence that the man possesses the
preliminary qualifications for American citi-
tenshIp. and US such to furnish the court of
naturalization on demand
How TO SHUT OCT THE CRIMINAL cLAssHs
This course would at once place the immi-
grant under the surveillance of the proper Of
tccr Of the United States, would y,ectuaIly
smut out the criminal classes, and operates very
much for the relief of the inspection bureaus
q. our ports OF entry. At this time there is no
medical inspection whatever of immigrants ex-
cept at the port of New York, and that circum-
stance viii no doubt have q tendency to in
crease the inhTx a. the other por'S. This
statement is .. applicable to cases OF leprosy,
smallpox, yellow fever or cholera. which cases
when found are taken from vessels at the re-
spectiye guarantees.
The report of the medical officer in charge
OF the Emergency Hospital established in the
Barge Office shows a great reduction IN the ex-
penses OF the medical department at that port,
and that when the new hospital on Ellis Island
shall have been finished it Will be practicable
70 still further reduce these expenses"
Delightful Organ Recital.
delightful organ recital was given at st.
James Church, Sth street near C street north
east, in honor Of the new organ that was dedi-
Gated only few weeks ago. The new instru-
ment Is very fine one and of remarkably