Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-04-27
sour National Dumping Ground"

"Our National Dumping Ground"
The above is the highly suggestive
title of two papers on immigration in
The North American Review. one by
Commissioner of immigration John H.
Weber the other by Charles Stuart
Smith, president of the New York cham
| Der of commerce.
Both take the ground that immigra-
ton is desirable, and that the right kind
of people, instead of being hampered
about by restrictions, should be encour-
aged. We want new foreigners, for one
thing, TO do the heavy and rough labor
which the American, German and Irish
man have successfully turned their
backs on. Mr.. Smith says the earnings
Of foreigners in the republic, even at the
rate of dollar day, amount to $780,
100000 year. There are 10, 000, 900 for
eigners in the country, and Mr. Smith
declares that if restrictions such as are
now talked of had been placed on immi-
grafton years ago the public works of
the United States would have been re-
tarded a quarter of a century. Andrew
Carnegie has given millions of dollars to
his adopted country in benevolent works,
besides enriching it to an even greater
amount in his manufacturing business,
yet not so many years ago Carnegie was
poor lad in Scotland.
Mr.. Weber says it is a mistake that
the slums of Europe pour their popula-
ton upon us. 1.-THE constitutional vag-
abond of Europe does not emigrate,"
and the slums there are seldom stirred
up so that their filth is flung across the
sea-" Two-thirds of the immigrants 20
to farms in the west. At the labor bu-
reau in New York there are three wom-
en- seeking servant girls for every one
that arrives, and letters asking for such
help come constantly from all over the
country. If the line were drawn as
tight as some persons already in wish it
to be, then at the next census, instead of
cengratulation at our rapid growth, a
national howl and wall would rise.
But conditions ought to be fixed for
those entering our borders either through
Canada or the seaports. The leading
ones Mr.. Weber designates below:
Perfect existing statutes where they are
weak.
Continue a rigid inspection at our ports:
guard the frontiers, especially on the north
for the putting up of bars at our sesports will
drive the current of undesirables to Canada
only to come across the border.
Place the expense Of all returned immigrants
upon steamship companies, whom self interest
will force 10 look for reimbursement to their
subagents, who have a personal knowledge Of
the qualifications OF intending immigrants bet
ter than any one else, and who would have a
direct pecuniary concern in the return Of de
fective; make subagents in this country re-
sponsible for the sale of prepaid tickets, estl
mated to be nearly co per cent of the whole:
then up to the time Of their acquiring citizen
ship hold all aliens liable TO compulsory return
TO the country to which they owe allegiance
or TO the ports from whence they came: ex-
Polling those convicted abroad Of crime upon
discovery; those convicted here, after serving
sentence and paupers, as soon as they reach
the implied condition; this status to continue
until the burdens Of Our citizenship have been
assumed and its privileges obtained. At pres
ent an alien may enjoy about all the benefits
and protection Of our citizenship, while avoid
ing its heaviest obligations