The record-union., 1891-09-26
RESTRICTING IMMIGRATION.

Senator w. L. Chandler has sent out
from Concord, n. H., circular letter on
immigration regulation. asking of the
people twelve specific questions, and So
Letting replies, prefacing the questions
with the statement that the present abso-
lutely excluded classes are these: Idiots,
insane persons, paupers or persons likely
to become such. diseased persons, con-
victs, polygamists, and persons coming
under a contract to labor. The questions
are:
1. Shall the list of excluded persons be en-
larged? If SO, by what new exclusions?
2. Shall Anarchists and Socialists be ex-
cluded?
B. Shall persons be excluded who cannot
read and write their own tongue? Shall they
also be required to read the Constitution of
the United states either in their own tongue
or in English? practical difficulty would
be found in applying this test TO families
shall every member above twelve years of age
be able to read and write, and any ignorant
member be excluded, and the family sepa-
rated? How many and what persons who can
read and write may bring the family in? How
many and what ignorant members shall keep
it out?
L. Shall each immigrant or each family be
or property?
8. Shall Immigrants from particular coun-
tries be excluded? We now exclude certain
Orientals. Shall we extend the prohibition to
any European countries or races?
g. Shall any new statutory methods be pre-
scribed, and If so, what?
z. Shall the number of cubic feet of space
and the other accommodations now required
to be given to each immigrant on vessels be
enlarged by law so as to increase the cost of
coming, and thereby keep out the poorer, and
therefore least GeStI able Immigrants?
3. Shall the head tax be increased from SO
cents to 50, 50 or $40 or to some of the yet
larger sums that have been proposed? The
present tax is collected not only from immi-
grants, but also from all foreigners who come
directly from Europe by water as visitors or
otherwise.
g. Shall consular certificate from the
country OF departure be required? 1t involves
an application from each immigrant or head
of a family TO the United states Consul near
est his home, and the production of full proof
to the Consul that the immigrants are not ex-
cluded from coming by any law.
10. Shall passengers by railroad trains, car
riages and on foot, coming across the Cana
dian and Mexican borders, be examined with
the same strictness as passengers by sea from
Europe? And i the plan of consular certifi-
and Mexican immigrants?
/. Shall aliens give public notice of their
intention to apply for final papers three
months before they are issued? Shall they
aver and prove that they did not come in
contrary to law? Shall they be required to
speak, read and write the English language
or TO read and write any Language? Shall nat
Courts and taken from State Courts?
IL. The contract-labor laws now prohibit
persons from coming under contract or
agreement, parol or special, express or i'm
Piled "to perform labor or service of any
kind" Is any amendment of these laws de-
sired? II so, what?
Senator Chandler to nearly all these
questions appends a few remarks ex-
planatory and illustrative. but we have
reproduced but few words from such
remarks, deeming the questions suffici-
emily lucid. He says that published
opinions are desired from editors and
other writers, and that all replies will be
laid before the Senate Committee on I'M
migration.
The field has not been enough broad
ened. 1t ought to include some thou
sands of others than editors, even con-
ceding that newspapers reflect the opin-
ions of the people of their localities.
Such inquiry may well run to State and
municipal officials of certain grade; to
uGdNlS OI euuCdllOIdl eSldDllS0uloDIS, 10
heads of organizations of capital and of
labor; to well-known economists and
public men; to the heads of commercial
bodies and mercantile and other business
organizations; to heads of immigration
societies and OF associated charities; to
leading clergymen, lawyers, physicians
aud philanthropists.
Suppose the replies aggregate quarter
of a million-it will not be such heroic
task to classify them and catalogue the
answers so as to gain fairly representa-
tive expression. But whatever the cleri-
cal labor, it will be worth it to have a CEN
sus of opinion upon this important SUBJ
ject.
The issuance of the letter is significant
1t demonstrates that there is deep and
widespread interest throughout the
country concerning immigration, and
that there is growing sentimentin favor
of greater restriction. But, as Senator
Chandler says, if public opinion is to go
beyond congratulations, and to take the
form of laws enacted by Conorass tba