The Portland daily press., 1891-06-04
EUROPES OUTCASTS NOT WANTED,
And the Government Determined
They Shall Not Come.
Secretary Foster Gives Warning to
the Transportation Companies.
Laws Regulating Immigration To Be
More StrIngentIy Enforced.

WASHINGTON, June 3.-The Secretary OF
the Treasury today addressed the following
circular letter to the steamship companies
and others engaged in bringing alien immi.
grants into the United States:
The attention of corporations and others
engaged in bringing alien immigrants into
the United States Is invited to the accompa-
nying copy of the general laws Of Congress
designed to regulate immigration. The
classes excluded are: l, idiots; 2, insane per-
come public charge: a, persons suffering
from l0aths0me or dangerous contagious
disease; 5, persons who have been convicted
OF felony or other Infamous crimes or misde-
meanors, not including persons convicted of
political offences only; 6, polygamists; z,
persons coming under contract to labor. All
corporations and others bringing into the
United States aliens falling within any of
the prohibited classes are required by law,
their own cost to the ports or countries
whence they came, and this requirement
holds good for one year after any such pro-
hlbited alien may have entered the United
States. 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 steerage passage, regardless
OF their character or condition, and regard.
less of these laws, compels, on the part of
the United States government, closer scru-
tiny and the adoption Of more comprehen-
sive measures than have hitherto seemed ne
cessary. 1t is wrong that either the greed of
some steamship companies, the mistaken
kindness of friends, or the wish of many
foreign communities to be rid of burdens
properly theirs, should be permitted to result
In this useless cruelty. Much of this whole
some preventive work can be done by the
transportation companies directly and
through their local inland agents in Europe.
The attention of steamship and other trans
p0rtation companies Is particularly called to
"persons likely to become public charge"
Doubtful cases should be excluded from the
passenger list.
Inasmuch as some steamship lines, in or
der to increase their carrying capacity. have
recently disregarded the provisions of the
laws OF the United States requiring certain
allowance OF cubic air space to each steerage
passenger. notice is hereby given that here
after more thorough inspections will be
made of all steamships engaged in bringing
immigrants to United States ports and the
penalty for the violation of law in this re-
spect will be rigidly enforced. The measure
suggested is not designed to take the place
OF inspection by regular United States oftic-
ials at the several ports of arrival, but Is to
be preliminary to and in aid of such inspec-
tions. lSigned.
CHARLES FOSTER.
Secretary.
Assistant Secretary Nettleton states that
the foregoing circular looks to a 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 a commission of inquiry
whose early departure for Europe has al
ready been announced. 1t is believed, he
says, from conferences with representatives
of the leading steamship lines, that all, or
nearly all, of the transportation companies
will promptly and willingly cooperate in
carrying out such system Of examination
prior to the embarkation of Immigrants as
will prevent the sailing of four-fifths of the
persons who would fall within the prohib-
tied classes.