Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-02
THEY MUST BE SCATTERED.
Assurances Given Him That They
Will Not Become Dependent.
A WARNING FROM THE OFFICIAL
That Destitute Refugees Must Not Be En-
cOuraged to Come Here.
INTENT OF THE IMMIGRATION LAWS

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-Simon Wolf
and Lewis Abraham, of this city, on behalf
of the Union of American Hebrew Congre-
cations, have addressed to the Secretary OF
the Treasury communication on the SUBJ
ject of the immigration of Russian Hebrews
TO the United States
In their address, the writers, while de-
ploring the arrival in this country OF so
many of their exiled people, maintain that
the statutes of the United States should not
be so interpreted as to class them
as paupers or assisted immigrants,
when hands of help and welcome are out
stretched to elevate them TO the exalted
position of American citizenship, without
demanding any contributions from national
or local taxes" etc.
THE REPLY OF FOSTER.
Secretary Foster has replied in substance
as follows:
BE assured, gentlemen, that fully concur
in your estimate of the magnitude OF the
1)resent calamity which has befallen so
many OF your race, as well as in your hope that
an early mitigation or cessation of the cur
rent measures OF expulsion may renuer
unnecessary any general mlgIatlon OF
Russian Hebrews TO America or elsewhere.
Unouestionably great and sudden influx
of cxnatria ted and destitute aliens OF any
race would be a grave misfortune to any
country, and American Hebrews act both
natriotically and humanely when they ad-
wise Hebrew refugees against coming hither,
bur at the same time endeavor to render
selfsupporting those who finally come. OBJ
viously. The support of great numbers of de-
,,eudent persons is a tax upon the resources
Of the country. even though paid from pri-
vate funds, and, quite ss plainly, industrial
conditions here would be seriously dis
turhed by the sudden arrival and the en-
forced competition of a multitude of needy
people.
SHOULD BE SCATTERED.
Hence it is important to the last degree
that the volume of this expected refugee
immigration be not excessive or threaten
ing and that with entire certainty to be
promptly and widely distributed, so as to
supply a real want in scattered communi-
ties and interfere as little as possible with
the existing and normal industrial condi-
tlOns.
While the immigration laws of the United
States must be enforced, l agree with you
that those laws were never enacted in dero-
cation of the plainest requisites of human
ity, and no worthy immigrant, who in all
other respects meets the demands OF our
statutes. should be excluded from the coun-
try because, through the action OF Others, he
l. for the time being homeless and without
property.
WARNING GIVEN.
l shall rely upon your voluntary assurance
that you VIII actively urge upon your breth-
ren in Europe the attitude of our laws to-
ward assisted immigration. also beg to re-
mind you that any tendency abroad to de-
fleet toward this country the movement of
destitute refugees or to stimulate their mi
grafton hither, would be distinctly hostile to
the spirit manifested in your letter, and to
the spirit in which the Government OF the
United states desires to trea1this difficult
and delicate problem.
Thanking you for your expressions of con-
f1dence that this department, while eKecut-
ing the immigration laws efficiently, will
also execute them humanely, lam, respect
fully yours, CHARLES FOSTER, Secretary.