New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-04
OCEAN LINES ASKED TO HELP
A PLAN TO KEEP OUT UNDESIRABLE I'M
MIGRANTS
SECRETARY FOSTERS CIRCULAR TO STEAMSHIP
COMPANIES. BEGGING THEM TO MAKE
AN INSPECTION OF ALIENS AP-

AN INSPECTION OF ALIENS AP-
PLYING FOR PASSAGE
u,osh,,oton lime 3-The Secretary OF the treasury
40 aav addressed circular letter 10 steamship IN
| nanies and Others engaged In bringing ln'hne" -
| the United States After calling atOehtioH :" INV
! minraton laws, the circular says IN part d..
The evident disposition OF many s'eah''n'p ~
under the pressure OF sharp competuoh' ~ eoV,'o'
in Europe and bring to the United states all WHO ga.
th ory triane cost of a steerage passage-regaru
- ~ their character or condition and regar"ess VI
an, la,Us-compels on the part OF the United o'ao'
Government a closer scrutiny and the aoop'on Vi "O
oomprehenslve measures than nave mlhei'' $3.50 ',s
necessary 80 far possible the sitting process
be annled Of the beginning, not at the enu Oh inc '
,na Much NJ This wholesome preventive work can
bo effectively done by the transportation ~ =,
dIrectlv and through their local inahd aeen'e 'n'
Europe and these companies must be aware tna' U'''
own pecupiary interests, not less than Iue '""'' "
humanity will be best served IN TINS way lion
The attention Of steamship ana 4tno proyison OF law
now force excluding persons s hHSK be excluded
om the passenger lists Inasmuch as some steaIsmp
lines in order 10 increase their carrying csPae .bo
econty dsrcgardcd tie provisions Of the laws OK inc
J s,tos reonIrinr certain allowance OF cubic ar
space TO each Storage passenger nouee Is Mn made
~ NJ, tcamsnipS engaged in bringing Immigrants 10
United States ports, and the penay lor trrsd
In order TO promote the object OF the mmgrauo,h
Iovs ~ the tinted States and avoid unnecessary nau
ships to aliens whom our laws exclude me h ye
M The Treasury invites the cooperation OF me eNo
steamship lines and all other lntefesten P That Will
carrying out system OF fOreg Officers II is
the duty OF each transportation company go n
bringing alien immigrants into the Inien vine for
dgently inquire whether any persons appSlnIE aoa
nassege probably come within the prohibited Classes
And rgidy TO exclude all such persons me mess Ta
on INV the regular United states officials at the several
ports of arrival, but Is TO be preliminary " anu " w
Of such inspection. ..
This circular is the result OF MISUNDERSTANDING
NettIeton,s recent investigation OF the subject Mr.
Nettleton who viii continue to give special a'ehuon
TO the administration Of tho immigration laws states
that OF the several steps thus far determined upon one
ia the sanding abroad Of commission OF INQUIRY
whose early departure for Europe has already peon
announced another is the cancellation OF eXsihe ooil
tracts with all the state Boards OF lmmlgrauoh' anu
the assumption Of the entire responsibility uhucr u'
immigration lays, by the National Government
third is outlined In the foregoing circular Oh he 'ec0
tary and looks to voluntary ana preliminary inspoO
tion Of immigrants in the countries nom whch thes
come at the hands OF the several transportation co
panes.
II is believed he says from conferences with repre-
sentatives of the leading steamship lines that ALL or
nearly all, OF the transportation companies wiz
promptly and willingly cooperate in carrying OUT sum
a system of examination prior to the embarkauon Oh
immigrants as will prevent the sailing OF four-hihs
NJ the persons who would fall within the prompled
classes one leading steamship company mas array
nracticay established this system OF foreign Inquiry.
General NetetOn expresses the opinion that thlS or
~ insncction abroad, under the stimulus m heaVy
penoe vii nroye more effective than would any pos
sjbe system under the charge OF american @
IT. Is m%t pbepSse Of this preliminary foreign inquiry
hut II is believed that the work on this SIDE VIII oe
greatly simpllfed and ltghtened