New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-14
OU4BAyTINE AND nnMIGRATION.

QUARANTINE AND NfWGRATION.
II is useful work that has been done for the
publc health as well moral as physical, by
tbo gentlemen composing the Chamber Of Com
merce Committee on Quarantine and lmmgia-
ton Thor report is accurate i'll It's statements
Of fact. and most sensible III It's conclusions.
The reasons assigned for urging that the
maintenance of a quarantine station and the
establishment of quarantine rules be committed
solely to the Federal Government-that " 1t Is
an indispensable factor in every quarantine
crisis; that its facilities for handling the
situation are immeasurably better than the
States possibly could be- that it can bring in
the ad of its foreign agents effectively ana
that it can corporate with other nations III
sanitary matters-these reasons seem to us aN
forcible as they arc well expressed. The com
mittees report, taken in connection with the
declaration of the Advisory Committee OF our
ablest physicians, that another visit of the
cholera may be apprehended next year and
that an end should be put to the perpetual
menace of indiscriminate immigration" should
suffice. if anything were wanting, to bring
about such action on these matters at the pres
ent session of Congress as will reaSsure and
satisfy public opinion.
1t is unfortunate of course, that an effective
measure of restriction will operate to the IN
Jury of the steamship companies, but their
complaints must be examined in the light OF
the assurance Of these merchants and pl'' scans
that an unhndercd entrance to imm grants
next wear will invite great National calamity.
Something has already been done to shut of
the worst flow by the Presidents quarantine
order of September l. The latest figures given
ont by the Government relating TO lmmgla-
tion-those for OCtober-are highly significant
and satisfactory. The total number OF lmml-
grants arriving during that month was 16,42S,
as compared with 54,1S2 during the same
month of 1891 This is the direct result OF
the Presidents quarantine proclamation' an
ordinance which continues in force and will
so continue until reversed by the same author
ity that enacted it. The reduced arrivals
stated BY countries show where the order has
mainly operated. immigration from Austria
Hungary, whence come, perhaps, the worst OF
our undesirable acquisitions, fell of from o,330
in October 1891, to ops in October, 1892 :;
that from Italy, from 4,441 TO 5Oi; that from
Poland from 2,0sj 70 34f, and that from
Russia. from 1856 to abs while The reduc-
ton in British immigrants is in no such great
proportion. The arrivals from the United
Kingdom in October, 1891. were 1851. and
in October. 1892 6,514. This showing proves
that the Presidents order is hitting just where
il ought to hit and the satisfaction 10 be got
from the returns increases when il is observed
that the total number Of immigrant arrivals
for the four months ending October 81 amount
Cd to 1895 as compared with 1881 for
the same months Of the year previous.
On no subject of general concern is public
opinion more unanimous hearty than in
the conviction that halt in immigration Is
from all points of view. industrial as well as
sanitary and political, exceedingly desirable.
There are already too many people here who
do not speak our language or understand our
system of popular government. The supply OF
European paupers, diseased persons and Grim
inalS has become intolerably large The bad
effects Of these conditions manifest Themselves
slowly and too little impress the minds Of in
diyidual citizens. Last summers cholera fright
and the consequent alarm as to possible re-
turn of the contagion will prove blessing if
they cause us 10 set up an adequate defence
against mischievOus immigration. No one
wishes, of course, except for the sanitary rca-
son which relates especially to next year and
its unusual occasion for an increased inflow,
to do more than this. No one wishes to stop
the coming of people who desire to earn an
honest living and who possess a reasonable
capacity. No one wishes to compel families
to remain apart. But the people see that we
have como to a point where the exercise of
watchful supervision over the health and
morals Of foreigners who wish to become
American citizens is a necessary duty. The
situation is one which cannot be left to take
care of itself We must give ourselves little
time to assimate the undesirable element we
have already admitted before taking in more
cargoes Of the same kind