, 1891-06-26
HOW THEY SLIP IN.
Despite Law and inspectors Contract La
BOrers Manage to Land.

SNAPANN -" AAH AAHIFNA'NH 9 -
BOrers Manage to Land.
Something must be done to improve
the system now employed in the detec-
ton Of contract laborers. They are
being constantly landed in this country
in spite of the utmost vigilance Of the
inspectors.
1t is estimated that at least so per
ceut-Colonel Weber ssid this was not
very far out Of the way-of the immi-
grants who come here under contract
slip through the barge Office, while a
large percentage Of those who are actu-
sufficient proof.
As a matter Of fact, the present sys-
TEN has to depend almost entirely on the
simplicity Of the immigrant, on his con-
fession that be is actually an out and
out contract laborer. Some actual de-
tective work is done by inspectors on
the travelling division" as it is called,
but the rank and file Of the contract la
borers who are sent back to Europe con
Wet themselves.
Every steamer coming in from a Euro
pean port is boarded at Quarantine by
one or more inspectors, accompanied by
an interpreter, according to the national
ity Of the passengers on board. Efforts
are then made while the vessel is pro-
ceeding to her pier TO discover If any
contract lAborers are on the vessel
These efforts are of course mainly con-
lined to the immigrants. The interpreter
c~irculates among them, for without him
the inspector would not be able to get
their confidence.
50 well Is this method known that
there probably is not an agent in Europe
sending people over here under contract
who has not q full description Of every
inspector employed and the interpreters
as we'll II is even limited that their
photographs are in the possessions Of the
European labor agents.
As a natural result every immigrant
who is under contract is thoroughly
posted as TO what he is to expec when
he reaches New York, and he is thor
Oughly prepared to answer all questions
in the safest manner for himself.
In the landing inclosure IN the barge
Office there are generally two inspectors
and several interpreters who sharply
watch the immigrants while they are
answering the questions Of the registry
clerks. Occasionally contract laborers
are caught, but that is simply because
the immigrant couvicts himself.
Where a number Of immigrants who
are suspected of being under contract
leave the barge office in a body for some
specific point one OF the travelling di-
vision Of inspectors is sent TO look up
the case. There are three Of these in
spec 'ors now on the road.
This is the only real detective work
done by this bureau. and these in brief
are the methods employed by the in
spectors TO detect the violators of the
contract law. It allows a year in which
TO convict a contract laborer and send
him back, and upon this time the travel
ing inspectors bank their hopes. Their
operations are confined mostly to inquir-
les, 1 am Old
1t is certain that the plan does not az
complish the desired result. Cases are
constantly cropping up where contract
laborers have slipped into this country,
gone to work and, afterward becoming
dissatisfied with their employers, have
asked the barge Office authorities to re-
dress their grievances.
There are several remedies, but one
which has been suggested, and which is
regarded as II Of the most potent, is to
send detectives to Europe to come over
IN the steamers as immigrants. They
would then have time during the voyage
10 make an investigation. This would
involve actual detective work, and it
would mean wearing poor clothes and
eating plain food. As one man put it.
"A silk tile would not be in it."
When approached Colonel Weber on
this subject he said; There is no ques-
ton that contract laborers are slipping
into this country, and something ought
to be done, but it is a knotty problem.
The plan of sending detectives to Euro
pean ports 10 come back on the steam
ers has already been suggested. You
must bear inmiDd that these men would
have to be linguists, and that is one diff
Guilty. They would at least have to I'M
derstand the language Of the immigrants
on the ship they We're on.
This plan would be spotted in time
as well as our present system, but /
would go further and keep detectives in
Europe who would correspond with
manufacturers and agents on this side.
IF these people are being contracted
for as a regular business by people here
r. In New York, and a regular commission
business, with humanity as a basis. car
ried on, we want 10 know it. Sending a
few immigrants back from the barge
Office is like killing a few skirmishers be-
fore a great battle. 1t doesn't affect the
great result a particle. We want to
strike at the root of the matter. Detect
i've work must be lone on this side
also"
General OBeirne gave a similar opin-
ion. What is the use of inspectors
standing in front of a procession of i'm
migrants as they file past the registry
desk and asking them questions queried
the general. "Why, the foreigners
actually smile when the usual stereo.
typed questions are asked We need
men who will take off their coats and 90
into a shop or factory where contract
lAborers are suspected Of being and work
there. Contract laborers are not going
to convict themselves with their eyes
open."-New York Herald.
Within the past four months the New
York papers have printed account of no