The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-08
IMMIGRATION FROM EUROPE.
commissioners Weber and Kempster
Make Their Report.


Make Their Report.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-Commissioner
Weber and Kempster of the commission
appointed by Secretary Foster for the pur-
pose of investigating in Europe the subject
of immigration to the United States, under
the provision Of the act prohibiting the i'm
migration Of alien contract laborers, have
made joint report which covers the sew
eral propositions furnished by the treasury
department.. First, as to the causes which
incite immigration" These, they say, are
the superior conditions and advantages
in the United States: Higher
wages, fewer hours of labor,
better living, freedom from military duty
and burdensome taxation, and regulations
involving freedom of movement, personal
liberty and better opportunities for rising
to higher social levels in this country; and
in Russia it is due to religious persecution.
BROUGHT HERE BY FRIENDS.
They obtained statistics from all the great
transatlantic steamship companies. showing
that more than 90 per cent. of the immi-
grants who land here come upon tickets
sent by relatives or friends who preceded
them, and which are purchased
in this country. As to whether
steamship companies stimulate 1mmigra-
IlOu buSy report CndG III the countries visited
by them this is forbidden by laws with
severe penalties. copies of which are ap-
pended 30 the report The results of confer
ences held with the steamship companies at
Liverpool and Bremen are given, in which
the steamship companies expressed q deter =
mination to be governed by our laws, aud
several of the lines have already issued cir
culars requiring all subabgents to conform
with the new instructions based upon by
nyNVs I0x yhNT lob Vrkr -.
culars are appended.
CONTRACT LABOR.
AS TO the importation Of contract labor
ers, they say the congressional legislation
which transferred the immigration bureau
to federal oversight has very largely stopped
the wholesale practice of such operations,
and that it now exists TO a very limited ex-
tent. Relative to the systematic shipment
of people physically defective, criminals, d,
insane, ETC., to this country. they report
that in the countries visited by them this is
not now done, although there is no doubt
that it was done formerly. r-o'
Concerning pauper immigration, they say
that If the standard of pauperism is to be
based upon possessions when landed 1t
would In times past have excluded many
who are now prominent in commercial,
financial and legislative bodies and in every
way worthy as true American citizens, and
il this standard is now to be adopted it will
exclude those who may become equally de-
sirable.
CONSULAR INSPECTION.
Relative to consular inspection, etc., they
report it as impraoticable, and present
many reasons to show its impracticability,
as it would at once increase the proportion
of weak and infirm and decrease the pro-
portion of young and strong, who are liable
to military duty In their own country.
They say it is their opinion that il congress
desires to restrict or stop immigration 1t
will meet that question squarely and not
try to do by cumbrous and expensive ma
chlnery what may be accomplished by
direct legislation.
Their report gives in detail the method
by which all undesirable immigrants may
be prevented from embarking, and with no
expense to the United States. Briefly, this
is to hold all steamship agents and sub
agents responsible for the cost of the re-
turned ineligibles, which can be done un-
der their own laws. Thus one returned
passenger would destroy the profits made
on the sale of ten or twelve tickets, and at
TIE same time the subagent would be sus-
pended or dismissed for noncompliance
with the steamship company's regulations.
VIEWS OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
Commissioners Cross, PowderIy and
Schultheis also made report and, in the
main, agree with the foregoing. Mr.. Pow
derly says, in every town he has visited In
Great Britain and Ireland he found liberal
supplies Of alluring emigration literature,
mainly folders Of the great railroads of the
United States. tenptingly displayed
with pamphlets setting fourth the resources
of new towns and homo sites along these
railroads. He calls particular attention to
one issued by the North Carolina Land
and Emigration Bureau, % Dey street,
New York" IN which it is stated that
''under the laws of North Carolina
and the United States, aliens may
acquire and hold property there and still
remain citizens of their native lands, and
that they are exempted from military, Jury
and other duties that American citizens are
compelled to perform"