The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-06-04
PAUPER IMMIGRANTS
Assistant Secretary Nettleton's
Plan of Restriction.
WARNING STEAMSHIP COMPANIES.

A Circular Letter Which Tells Them
Where Duty and Prudence Makes
Them Allies with Our Govern.
ment In Enforcing the Law of the
Land.
WASHINGTON, June 4.-The plan pre-
pared by Assistant Secretary Nettleton
for restricting pauper immigration into
the United States has been submitted
TO the president and approved, and was
embodied in circular letter and sent to
all steamship companies sending immi-
grants to this country. The circular
after reciting the laws designed to regu-
late immigration. says:
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 VINO,
with or without the aid of others, can
pay the now trifiing cost of steerage
passage, regardless of their character or
condition and regardless of our laws,
compels on the part of this government
closer scrutiny and the adoption of
more comprehensive measures than
Y. v
it Is the purpose of the government to
enforce these statutes in the letter and
spirit at every port of the United States
and along the international boundaries,
it is desired that as little discomfort and
distress as possible result to persons af-
fected by the immigration laws.
Prevent Them from Leaving,
With this in view it is impor tant that
persons OF the prohibited class be pre-
vented from leaving their homes and
crossing the sea only to be sent back on
their arrival here. 1t is wrong that
either the greed of some steamship COM
panies, the mistaken Kindness Of friends
or the wish Of many foreign commun-
tiles to be rid OF burdens properly theirs
should be permitted to result in this
useless cruely. So far rs possible the
sitting process should be applied at the
beginning, not at the end Of the long
journey.
Much of this preventive work can be
effectively done by the transporting
companies directly and through agents
in Europe, and these companies must be
aware that their pecuniary interest, not
less than the cause Of humanity, will he
the best served in this way. The atten-
ton of steamships and other transporta-
tion companies is particularly called to
the provision Of the law now in force,
excluding persons likely to become a
public charge" Doubtful cases should
be excluded from the passengers lists.
Laying Down the Law,
Inasmuch as some steamship lines, in
order to increase their carrying capacity,
have recently disregarded the provisions
Of the laws Of the United States requir-
ing q certain allowance of cubic air
space to each steerage passenger, notice
is hereby given that hereafter more
thorough inspection will be made of all
steamships engaged in bringing immi-
grants to United States ports, and the
penalty for violation of the law in this
respect will be rigidly enforced
1t is the duty of each transportation
company engaged in bringing alien i'm
migrants into the United States to dill
gently inquire whether any persons APP
plying for passage properly come within
the prohibited classes, and to rigidly ex-
clude all such persons.
Assistant Secretary Nettleton has di-
rected the return of two Italians and
enc Swedish immigrant TO their respect
i've countries. These immigrants ar
rived in the United States in january
last, but have since become paupers, and
under the new law can be returned at
the expense Of the steamship company
which brough them here.