The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-08
UNITED STATES EMIGRANTs.
Commissioners ExplSin why They Com
to the Lar Of Freedom.

Commissioners ExplSin why They Como
to the Lai d of Freedom.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Sin June, 1891,
Secretary Foster appointed the following
commission to investigate in Europe the
subject of emigration to tho United
Safes: j. 8. Weber, commissioner OF i'm
migration at New York, chairman; Cap
tain Judson, N. Cross, DR.. Walter Kemrs-
ter, Joseph Powderly and II. J. Schultz
The members OF the commission have =
ported to the Secretary. Commissioners
Weber and Kempster made joint report.
They say the causes which invite emf
grafton from Europe are the superior con-
ditions and advantages in the United
States; higher wages, fewer hours OF Ia
Dor, better living, freedom from military
duty and burdensome taxation regula-
tions involving freedom OF move
ment, personal liberty and better
opportunities for rising to higher
sia it is due to religion presentation.
More than 60 per cent of migrants who
land here come upon tickets sent by rel
atives or friends 6rom this country. Az
to whether steamship companies stfmu-
late emigration, they report that in the
countries visited by them, this - for
hidden by laws with severe penalties.
Steamahip companies at Liverpool and
Bremen expressed a determination to be
governed by our laws. Importation of
contract laborers now exists to very
limited extent. There is now no syste-
matte shipment Of detectives, criminals,
insane, etc. to this country, although 1t
standard of pauperism is to be based upon
money possessions when landed 1t will
exclude those who may become citizens.
Consular inspection they can regard -
impracticable. They say that II Congress
desires to restrict or stop emigration, 1t
will meet that question squarely. They
give a method by which undesirable emi-
grants may be prevented from embarking,
and with no expense to the United States.
This is to hold all steamship agents and
sub-agents responsible for the cost OF the
returned ineligibles. The great steamship
companies have already issued circulars
to their sub-agents naming the sum
which will be deducted from their salary
or commission II any person TO whom
they sell ticket Is not permitted to land
in the United States. The report sug-
gests that our laws be amended to compel
the return to their own countries OF all
paupers as soon as they become pauper-
lied; all criminals after serving out
sentence up to the time OF their becom-
ing full citizens, as is done by every
country visited except England. Atten-
tion Is called to the necessity OF guarding
the Canadian borders to prevent ineligi-
BILE from crossing. They say the return
movement Of mechanics and laborers
who go back and forth is less than 10
generally supposed. They are OF tho
opinion that the terrible persecution OF
the Russian Jews is based almost entirely
supon religious grounds.
Commissioners Cross, In his report sayp
he has positive proof, that from England,
Ireland and Scotland during the last IL
years there has been . systematic wide
spread and thoroughly organized move
ment, patronized by the government OF
Great Britain for the purpose Of sending
convicts and ex-convicts to the United
States. The passage and money to keep
them while seeking employment here Is
furnished directly by the government OF
Great Britain expended through "dts-
charged prisoners aid societies"
Boston is the principal port to which
these persons have been sent. Mr. Cross
thinks the number of vorkmen who come
from foreign countries to the United
States In the spring and return In the
autumn, In very great.
Mr.. Powderly's report details the meth
DDS employed by "emigration aid socie-
ties in Europe to induce people TO emf
CRATE. Paupers in England and Ireland
are assisted to emigrate.
Commissioner Schultus also makes Q
report.