The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-14
immigration to Be Restricted, if Not
Suspended, in Spite of All Opposition.
Criticisms Of President Harrisons Message by
the Canadian Minister Of Finance An
swered by Secretary OF State Foster.


Threats of Foreign Steamship Companies
TiiNot Help Their Cause Before CongresA
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13-The London dis.
patch, announcing that the North Atlantic
Steamship Association would, after the
new year. carry only saloon and second
class passengers, together with the com.
ments of the agents of the various
lines which are members of this asso-
ciation, caused no little indignation
among the members of Congress-
to-day. The action of this association, of
which very few people not engaged in the
business of bringing paupers at so much
per head into the United States had ever
heard of, is accepted here as being Q
kind of corporation black-mall upon
the government of this country. Congress
man Stump, who is chairman Of the immi-
grafton committee in the House, said to-
dap that the immigration committees of
both branches of Congress would hold
Joint sessions tomorrow and Friday, and
that the representatives of steamship COM
panles engaged IN the immigration trade
had been invited to appear before the CON-
mittees at their Friday meeting. AS for
Association. be dismissed it as idle "bluff,"
TO which the committees of both
branches of Congress would pay no heed.
similar threat. he said. had been made
some time ago by the com panies, that they
would divert their trade to Canada. He
could say that there was determination
20 restrict, IL not to totally suspend, Immi-
grafton, In spite of all the opposition of the
steamship companies.
Senator Chandler to-day introduced his
h.l NJ fhnv vivtv 4 fhn
immigration at his discretion. The immi-
grafton bill now upon the Speakers table
In the House aims simply TO enforce a
rigid inspection of Intending immigrants
at the port of embarkation, bv the captain
and Surgeon of the steamship. who must
then make affidavit before the American
consul at that port that there are on board
no Objectionable immigrants. Mr.. Stump
thinks that the immigration committees
will so amend this bill that when 1t is put
on it's final passage it will prohibit immi-
grafton. Senator Chandler does not fear
sn invasion of immigrants by way of Can
ada, nor does he look for any serious OBJ
jection from European countries to pro-
pending in several European legislatures
restricting the migration of the poorer
classes to the United States, ana
Senator Chandler thInks that tho effort of
this country to prohibit the departure of
their subjects will be heartily favored by
Il european governments. During Its in
svkstiRation the Senate immigration coE-
mittee learned that Canada would most
heartily welcome such laws, since the sta
tistics of the Dominion show that all the
Immigrants which Canada could induce to
settle on her lands remained scarcely six
months in Canada before they crossed the
border into the Northwestern States. and
that in spite of the most liberal lmmigra.
tion laws the net result of all inducements
to foreigners was almost nothing. AS for
the threat of the steamship companies to
divert immigrant traffic to Canadian bor-
ders, Senator Chandler is assured that in
such q case the Canadian government will
impose quarantine regulations and take
other sanitary precautions against cholera
quite as effective those which the steam
ship companies now seek to evade.