New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-17
TIE TOpEJGN CONTRACT LABOR Law.

TIE FOREIGN CONTRACT LABOR Law:
The absurd notion is still sedulOuSly foStered
bv people who ought TO know better that the
Republican party i'll general, and tho present
Administration in particular, is secretly OPP
nosed to the enforcement of the law against
foreign contract labor. 1t is difficult TO tell
how the friends of this idea can persuade them
selves and others of their sanity The loose
talk about Republican temptations to pauper
Europeans to come TO this country and grow
rich on "protection wages which should
properlv 90 into the pockets of native Ameri-
cans. is tiresome enough even IN campaign
times. Just now it becomes public nuisance,
and it is a pity that Democratic writers should
think it worth while TO revive 1t,
What are the facts? Under the late Ad-
ministlation the COntract-LabOr law remained
\ dead letter. OF the half-mlllon immigrants
who swarm annually upon our shores the num-
Der brought here under contract must be very
lorce But the reflections were ludicrOu>-
" few and far between. At rare intervals the
protest of a local labor organization in an I'M
usually fragrant case called attention 10
the systematic violations of the law and the
hopeless indifference or incompctency OF the
officials charged with its enforcement. For
all practical purposes these officials might aS
well not have existed and tho yigor with which
the infamous padrOno system has tiounShcd IS
proof that the foreign agents OF our imported
shareholders have been fully alive TO the 1act'
The law itself, as everybody knows, IS radical
" defective. Its restrictions are 50 framed as
10 depend on proof always hard ana some
times impossible 10 procure, and loose inter
pretatiOns have been easy in cases where the
nroof itself was crcumstantial. Various efforts
have been made, principally by RcpuoIIc an
LEGISLATORS, to change this order of things. The
proposition of the present Minister TO SPAN 10
exact from immigrants u passport IN the shape
Of A certificate OF character and fitness,
signed by our consular officers abroad seems
20 have met with most favor and was recon-
mended by Secretary Window in his report
last December.
Mr.. Windows policy in migration matters
* energetic and buSineSs-Lie. \ serious OBJ
stacle 10 the prevention of contract labor has
| bcen the existence of State Emigration Com
missions. which. rs a rule have steadily shiIked
their responsibilities and set the Federal au-
| tholiticS at defiance. Under the Act OF lSS2
the Secretary Of the Treasury has power 10
| contract with the state boards for the care 0i
| immigrants. Mr.. Window is the first Hecrc-
tarv who has been jealous enough TO refuse 70
continue such a contract, and TO place the
| immigrants under the supervision Of inspectors
directly responsible TO himself. The results.
20 far n contract labor is concerned are en-
incntly encomag cling The total number Of 70
| iections To April Is the date on which the
change was made, was -. Those made sui
! seouc,ltlv number Is. or an excess Of 90 IN
ono month over the total for several years.
The decision OF Judge LacOmbe that such
reflections are constitutional encourages the
hope that the Department may succeed IN prov
| inc That the law means what 10 says when i
forbids foreign labor contracts, "eXproS> or I'M
nlied" The failure % produce IN evidence a
formal written agreement, signed and sealed
between the padrcno and his lucfless victim
| Ought not 10 be allowed 10 hamper tho in
spcctors. A strict construction OF the law
| would work immeasurable benefit TO those who
are too ignorant to protect themselves. The
suggestion that it would also prevent the whole
sale importation from Europe Of ready made
| Mormons is entitled 10 considerable weight
The Utah and Idaho settlements undOubtcdl!
| dcpend for their maintenance on foreign re-
| cruits who are as undoubtedly the dupcS OIL
| Mormon missionaries and if the Contract lpw
| is construed TO cover the pledges and agree
monts under which they are enticcd to this
country. the days Of the Latter-Day Saint
| will be numbered