Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-08
4 DUMPING GROUND.
Why Europeans Flock to This
Country Set Forth in an
Official Report.
OCEAN LINES INNOCENT.
Emigration Laws on the Other Side
Are Too Strict for Them.
RUSSIAN INTOLERANCE A FACTOR.
An Organized Movement by Which England
is Rid of Criminals.
OCEAN LINES INNOCENT.
RUSSIAN INTOLERANCE A FACTOR.
Ey-CONVICTS ARE SENT OVER HERE

WASHISGToN, Feb. THE members o.
the commission whicE visited Europe to In
vesticate the subject of immigration 10 the
United States have submitted their report
10 the Secretary OF the Treasury. Commits
sioners " c5er and kempster made a joint
report which covers the several pronosi-
tions furnished by the Treasury Depart,
ment, first, as TO the ''causes which incitf
emigration"
These they state are the superior condi-
tions and advantages in the United States;
higher wages, fewer hours of labor better
living. freedom from military duty and bur-
dansome taxation, and regulations involv-
ing freedom of movement, personal liberty
and better opportunities for rising to higher
social levels in this country; and in Russia
it is due 10 religious persecution.
They obtained statistics from all the great
transatlantic steamship companies, showing
that more than 90 per cent of immigrants
who land here come upon tickets sent by
relatives or friends who preceded them, and
which are purchased in this country.
Steamship Lines Under Restraint.
As to whether steamship companies
stimulate emigration, they report that in
the countries visited by them this is for
hidden by laws with severe penalties, copies
OF which are appended to the report. The
results Of conferences held with steamship
companies at Liverpool and Bremen are
-iven. in which the steamship companies
expressed a determination TO be governed
by our laws, and several of the lines have
ALREADY issued circulars requiring all sub
sgents to conform with the new instructions
based upon our laws, which they quote, and
the circulars are appended.
A. 10 the importation of contract labor
ers. they say the Congressional legislation
which transferred the Immigration Bureau
70 Federal oversight, has very largely
ucnued the wholesale practice of such
operations, and that it now exists to very
limited extent. Relative to the systematic
shipment of detectives, criminals, insane,
etc. to this country, they report that in the
countries visited by them this is not now
done. although there is 10 doubt it was
done formerly.
Pauper Immigration Not Always Bad.
Concerning pauner immigration thev say
that if TIE standard of pauperism is to be
based upon money possessions when landed,
it would in times past have excluded many
who are now prominent in commercial,
financial and legislative bodies, and every
way worthy as true American citizens, and
if this standard is now to be adopted it will
exclude those who may become equally de-
sirable
The report gives in detail a method by
which all undesirable emigrants may be
prevented from cmbarking, and with no ex-
penSe to the United States Briefly, this is
to hold all steamship agents and sub-agents
l. - -, g ; 10 81
eligibles
The large number of Hebrews emigrating
from Russia determined a thorough investi-
cation OF the causes existing in that coun-
trv which produce this outflow, and Com
missioners Weber and Kempster spent
most Of their time there. They give a full
account of tie methods pursued, which, if
continued, will cause the emigration of
population numbering 5,000,0 or 7,000,-
300, not only of Hebrews, but of ali nom
members of the orthodox Greek church.
a Case Against Russian Intolerance.
They supplement their report with trans
afionS of the edctS, ukases and regulations
irst inviting these people into Russia, then
expelling them, together with copy of the
restrictive laws. They also show the
pressure brought 10 bear bv tine
Russian Government against Lutherans,
Of other religious denominations. Their
conclusions are that the terrible persecu-
tions are based almost entirely upon religi-
Gus grounds, and must, if continued, drive
out the entire population of the so-called
un-orthodoz. These conclusions are based
IN personal examination and conversation
with people OF all classes in the Russian
domfGiors.
In those countries visited by Commits
sioner Cross he found that, so far as the
causes melting immigration arc concerned,
the same general conditions exist above de-
scribei: Over opulation, lack of labor in
the agricultural districts, low wages and
the letterS describing the better conditions
here, which are often ACCOMPANIED by pre-
l&;d ticke,s or money sent by the pioneer
emigrantS 10 the Younger people, either
relatives or friends, left behind; and that in
some districts in ireland one sees only old
peonle, the Young persons having all gone
TO America.
Tickets Sold on Long Time.
He states that he has personal knowledge
of the fact that in the Northwestern States
tickets are sold on six months time and
sent to England and Norway for intending
eIuiETants. In Itaiv, he says that emil
grafton IS incited TO a very large extent by
the efforts OF the steamship agents who are
everywhere there very active.
Relative to the employment of contract
laborsrs for expectation to the United
States, he says he was not successful in find
ing many cases, although hc is under the
impression that there are individual cases
Of persons who return to Europe at the in
stance Of employers to bring out operatives.
England Dumping Her Convicts On Us.
Commissioner Cross says there is sTs-
tematic landing on our shores of the con-
victs of Great Britain, and that lie has posi-
tive proof that from England, Ireland and
Scotland during the last II years there has
been 4 systematic, widespread and thor
ouchly organized movement known, en-
couraged and patronized bv the Government
Of Great Britain, for the purpose
of sending convicts and ex-convicts 10
the United States. The passage and money
to keep ;hem while seeking employment
here is furnished directly by the Govern
ment of Great Britain expended through
discharged Prisoners Aid Societies" I"
which are provided for by the 'act for the
more effective prevention of crime" passed
August p, 1871, and amendments thereto;
and that bv this systematic deportation of
,onvicts and ex-convicts the numbers under
surveillance have been reduced from 20, 900
in 1870 10 l., 900 in 1891.