The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-19
Pauners bv the shipload


Europe is making this country the dump
ing ground for her criminals, cripples and
paupers. There can no longer
be any doubt about that The
laws made to shut out the dregs
Of European populations are not enforced.
Almost daily there are Landed at New
York buhdreds of people who contribute
nothing. btoward the prosperity of the
country, but who become burdens upon the
communities in which they even tually
make their homes, and who furnisl a large
percentage Of those who fill our prisons,
asylunsAad almshouses.
This broad statement is justified by the
discoveries of Herman J. Schulties, an
immigretim commissioner of the treasury
dePartneht, who returned to this country
as al aziAsed immigrant on the steamship
Ssrvia, eRching New York Monday, after
having visited the principal localities from
which thsiDmigrants come. He satisfied
himself thoroughly of the character Of the
immigrants, and Of the methods employed to
get rid OF them. There are societies which are
abundantly supplied with monsy. which is
used for shipping abroad the refuse of the
populations. The most of these undesirable
immigrants are sent to this country. not
because the societies which assist them care
particularly where they go, but because.
owing to the lax way in which the immi
grafton laws are enforced, they find little
or no difficulty in gaining admission here.
Commissioner Schulties, pretending to be
a pauper, received assistance to reach
fhia 10 ag in
the steerage with many others who had
been assisted just as he had been, and who
had no means Of providing bread for them
selves on their arrival here. The story he
told when he reached New York ought to
arouse deep feeling of indignation through
out the country. The scenes of beastliness
and immortality he witnessed on shipboard
revealed the degraded character Of many of
the immigrants, and convinced him that
they would be burdensome and dangerous
addition TO any community.
But, strange to say, the immigration COM
missioners at New York permitted all of
them to land and go their several ways.
Commissioner Schulties attempted to have
lie of them detained for a close inspection,
but no attention was paid TO his efforts in
that direction. The inspection that was made
revealed nothing, because it was not
thorough. There might as well have been
no inspection at all. Commissioner
Schulties was virtually told to mind his
own business although his authority is
equal to that of those who are in charge of
the inspection Office.
For several years the sentiment of this
country has been strongly against
receiving from European countries
the refuse of their populations,
and congress has enacted stringent laws in
harmony with this sentiment. These laws,
however, are not enforced as they should
be. The great steamship companies, if re-
ports are true. disregard them, and they
appear to have sufficient influence to induce
immigration commissioners to close their
eyes to violations Of them.
1t is undoubtedly the purpose Of Commits
sioner Schulties to make an
effort to have the inspection
laws enforced vigorously, and If the
administration is as anxious as it pretends
to he TO prevent paupers, criminals and
outcasts from coming to this country
it will give him all the support he needs
II the immigration commissioners are not
disposed to do their duty let them be re-
moved. They should not be permitted for
single day to stand in the way Of carrying
out the will of the people,