The Portland daily press., 1891-09-15
TRULY, THESE ARE WANDERING JEWS.
Having Reached Montreal, They May
Be Shipped Back to England,
Unless They Can Take Their Lazy
Way to This County.
1t Seems To Be a Choice Between
Frying Pan and Fire.

MONTREAL, September 14.-One hundred
and ten Jewish immigrants, who were
brought over to this :ountrya few days ago
by the Dominion line steamsphip Oregon.
are now at the Dominion immigration office
In this city in pitable condition. The refu-
gees are wretched looking lot. The men
are dirty and lazy, and the women and chill
dren pictures Of the most squalid misery.
Inc party consists Of about dozen families
OF eight or nine each. and a great number
are young children. from the infant in arms
10 10 and II years Of age. The men are ap-
parently unable or unwil ing to turn their
nands TO any work. They landed here with
OUT a cent, and the result is that they are
WITHOUT means OF sustenance. The majority
OF the party are from Hungary, and they
were taken on board the Oregon at Liver
pool, expecting to be assisted when they
landed here.
The Baron Hirsch Institute which has as
Sisted several thousand refugees since the
opening OF navigation. found its funds ex-
hausted and was unable to render the Ore
gon party any assistance. The Dominion
government was appealed TO, but has re-
fused to do anything for them. TheC0mmis-
sl0lner OF Agriculture addressed. the follow
Ing order TO the immigration officers here:
In view Of the Importance ofthe subject. i'm
and he In his turn submitted the matter 10 his
colleagues. The result is the decision that the
government o ,h VII not incur any expenditure for
therefore, be cared for by their coreligionists in
Montreal. understand that the Baron Hrsch
society has funds for that purpose. but however
religionlsts.
The immigration law, as.you are aware, does not
they may be sent back at the expense Of the ship.
!. may further say that we have Information that
itls the intention to send numbers of them who
nave been refused a landing at New York, to Can
ada, but if anything of this sort is attempted the
LANDING will be refused. It,is therefore i'm
portant that the steamship agents here advise
their Liverpool correspondents of the fact. There
is no desire 70 hinder any immigration whatever,
on on account OF nationality or religion, only that
vide for at the public expense people who cannot
get their own living in this country. Any attempt
10 40 tnis VIII be ruinous to the cause OF immi-
grafton ITSELF The shipping interests are, there
fore, really the same as those of the Dominion.
Within the limit OF the exception all immigrants
are welcome, and the agents of the department
VIII afford them all possible assistance.
As a result of this decision the Baron
Hirsch Institute Is in a quandary. The
funds OF the institute have been exhausted,
and the result Is that the refugees will have
either to be, shipped back to England or be-
come burden on the city.
In the Jewish synagogues an appeal was
made to the members Of the Hebrew COM
munity to subscribe funds for their assist
ance, and a mass meeting has been called to
raise a subscription. A cablegram has also
been sent to Baron Hirsch asking for further
assistance, but so far no answer has been
received from the Hebrew philanthropist
The condition of the refugees in the mean
time Is most deplorable. For several days
they have had very little to eat, but today
some of the Hebrew residents managed to
provide them with food
Failing to procure assistance here, the
Hebrew authorities are sending the refugees
by small detachments into the United States
by rail, and hope to gradually get them off
their hands In this way. Money Is being
provided them, and number have already
been got out of the country.