The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-12-28
How to Restrict Immigration.
From the xew Yosk ErPrsss

How 70 Restrict irnfnisf aNiO"-
From The New Tosk Express
Il needs no deep disoernment TO per-
ceive that the people Of the United
States, without distinction Of party, are
virtually unanimous for additional re-
strictions upon immigration 1t is not
necessary and would hardly be timely to
discuss whether additional restrictions
are requisite. The public verdict upon
that question has been given, and it IS
overwhelmingly in the affirmative. The
American people are tired Of seeing the
wretched, dosntrodden victims Of for
eign oppression dumped upon these
shores, q mass Of yitiated humanity, dis
tinct in almost every Characteristic from
the elements that have made the Rspu5-
lie great. Such immigration, long con-
,inued, would be a poisonous inoculation
Of the body polite, in addition to the
present and immediate danger Of those
epidemics which have their breeding
places among the hideously unsanitary
conditions Of eastern Europe and Asia.
Il is right, it is imperative that Con-
gress should enact the legislation neces-
sary to protect the country as far as pos
sible from moral and physical plague,
and the exclusion OF undesirable immi-
grants is not q matter OF expediency
alone, but duty. The paramount ques-
ton, therefore, is What method is bes,
to accomplish such exclusion, 10 keep
ont the obnoxious and undesirable while
keeping our doors open TO those who are
2 valuable addition 10 the strength and
resources Of the nation Il has been sug-
gested that a pecuniary qualification
should be imposed The difficulty with
a pecuniary qualification is that a mos,
desirable immigrant might land here
with al empty purse, but possessed Of
all the mental ana physical qualities
likely to make him an excellent citizen,
while, on the other hand, immigrants
whose presence would be q pestilence
might have the necessary amount OF
money. L was pointed out at q recent
hearing in Washington that the Scandi-
nayians, who are Ia every way desirable
Immigrants, seldom have much money
when they arrive. On the other hand,
through the assistance extended by. a
wealthy syndicate in Earope, Russia i'm
migrants OF an obnoxious type actually
paupers, with their passage paid TO this
country, have been able 10 produce the
amount heretofore required at tie immi-
grant landing place, and wolld probably
be able 70 produce a larger amount, even
should the limit be raised. In a recent
interview the editor OF Swedish jour
nal Suggested that Russian immigrants
were given sum Of money on the other
side 10 show on their arrival here, anc
were afterwaId required to give the mon
ey up to the agents Of those who had ad-
vanoed it, to be used over again by other
immigrants. Tie Pes does not say tina.
such is the case, but it is certainly posi-
bic, and any financial condition imposed
on immigrants could in this way be
readily nullihed.
literary qualification would seem to
be calculated. TO insure a good class OF
in migrants The adult immigrants from
the British Isles and Western and North
ern Europe are able, as a rule, to read
and write; whereas the undesirable i'm
migrants from certain other regions are
as ignorant as they are debased. 1t is
wise, therefore, for Congress TO consider
whether any immigrant over a certain
age should be admitted unless able to
rad and write with ordinary iuency in
the immigrant's own language. Should
such an examination be honestly con-
Quoted il would exclude the vast MAORI
ty Of undesirable immigrants.
In addition to this there should be an
investigation abroad by authorized agents
Of tue United States Government re-
garding the character OF Intending immi /
grants. American oonsuls abroad should
receive special commissions for the per
fJrmanee Of this duty, and should be
held to a strict responsibility for negli-
gsnce OF dishonesty in its performance
No immigrant should be admitted unless
he or she brings a certificate, issued by
United States Consul, to the affect that
the Consul is satisfied that the intending
immigrant is a proper person to beallow-
ed 70 land in the United States, and that
the Consul has personally seen and ex-
amined the immigrant. The authority TO
issue such certificates could be with
drawn from Consuls who are situated in
regions where there is reason to fear an
epidemic, as. for instance, the Russian
+ npire, Southeastern Europe, and so
forth. With this safeguard and a care
ful examination on this side of the At
lantic as to physical condition and abili-
ty, it would be extremely dificult for OBJ
I oHions foreigners to obtain access to the
United States.