Morning journal and courier., 1891-06-04
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
 SECRETARY's OFFICE,

l SECRETARY OFFICE, l . WASHINGTON, D. C., June 8. The attention of corporations and others en. gagged in bringing alien Immigrants into the Unit
 aee | immigration. It will be observed that the law as
 amended March 8, 1891, prohibits the landing in I aliens:
 | Q Idiots @ insane persons; GD persons
 sfss,no nxsy 1o fD become public charge Sg persons l tagious disease; (0 persons who have been con-
 yicted of felony or other infamous crime or mis- ing persons convicted of political offenses only: so poiygamists; @ persons coming under con- All corporations and others bringing into the
 United States aliens falling within any of the pro- hlbted classes are required by law, under heavy ports or countries whence they came. and this requirement holds good for one year after any sncn prohibited alien may have entered the The evident disposition of many steamship lines, under the pressure of sharp competition to gather up in Europe and bring to the United states all who with or without the aid of others, can pay the now trifiing cost of 8 steerage pas sage-regsrdless of their character or condition part Of the United States government, 8 closer scrutiny and the adoption of more comprehensive measures than have hitherto seemed necessary. While it is the puraose of the government to enforce these statutes in States and along the international boundaries it is desired that as little discomfort and distress as
 
 grafton laws. With this view it is important vented from leaving their homes and crossing the sea only to be sent back on their arrival here. It is wrong that either the greed of some steamship companies, the mistaken kindness of friends or the wish of many foreign communi- ties to get rid of burdens properly theirs should be permitted to result in this useless cruelty.
 So far as possible the sitting process should long journey Much of this wholesome prevent. i've work can be effectively done by the transpor- tation % l., companies d directly and through their nies must be aware that their own pecuniary in terests, not less than the cause of humanity, will be best served in this way.
 The attention of steamship and other transpor- tion companies is particularly called to the pro- vision of law now in force excluding persons Doubtful cases should be excluded from the passenger list; 1nasmuch as some ing capacity, have recently dsregarded the pro visions of the United States requiring certain al senger, notice is hereby given that hereafter more thorough inspections will be made of all Sfeamds9ps engaged gage % in bringing h mmFgrants to of the law in this respect will be rigidly enforced In order to promote the subject of the immigra- tion laws of the United States and avoid unneces- Sary hardships to aliens whom our laws exclude the secretary of the treasury invites the ceopera ton of the several steamship lines and all other foreign inquiry that will facilitate the work of the government officers
 It IS the duty or eacn transportation company United States to diligently inquire whether any person applying for passage properly comes within the prohibited classes, and rfgidfy to ex- clude all such persons. The measure suggested is not designed to take place of the inspection by the regular United States officials at the several ports of arrival, but is to be preliminary to and in aid of such inspection. [Sgnedl
 CHARLES FOSTER, Secretary
 Assistant Secretary Nettleton states that the foregoing letter looks to further en- largement of the plans of the government for effectively enforcing the several acts of congress relating to immigration. Of the steps thus far determined upon, one is the sending abroad of commission of inquiry whose early departure for Europe has already been announced; another is the cancellation of existing contracts with all state boards of immigration and the as- sumption of the entire responsibility un- der the immigration laws by the national government; third is outlined in the foregoing circular of the secre- tary of the treasury and looks to a voluntary and preliminary inspection of immigrants in the countries from which they come at the hands of the several transportation companies. It is believed, he says, from conferences with representa- tives of the leading steamship lines, that all or nearly all of the transportation com panies will promptly cooperate in carrying out such system of exemp- ton to the colonization of immigrants as will prevent the sailing of four-ffths of the persons who would fall within the prohibited classes