The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-13

An INTELLIGEScER reporter called on
Colonel Jacob Kemple yesterday, to get
his views on the proposed new law sus-
pending all European immigration for
period of one year, and OF talking to
him on immigration matters generally.
Colonel, how long have you been in
spector OF immigration" he was asked.
81 have been connected with the bu-
reau OF immigration in various capaci-
ties nearly tour years, and in that time
have been stationed at the port OF New
York, also ON the American Mexican
border at Nogalcs, Arizona, and in
British Colombia and Manitoba, also at
Buffalo, N. Y, on the lower Canadian
border. My duties on the borders were
to assist in the apprehension OF China
men and the smugglersof opium. There
have been q great many arrests and
convictions under the Chinese exclu-
sion act, but the long range OF border
and the limited force afforded vast OPP
portunities for this class OF smuggling,
and believe more have gotten through
the lines than have been kept out:
Why, it would require an army and
bankrupt the treasury to post lnspec-
tors at every accessible point. Yet
more rood work has been done by the
present administration in the enforce
ment OF the various immigration laws
than ever before. The Immigration
bureau was entirely reorganlzed by
Secretary Window, and carried out ana
enforced under Secretary Foster. Ihere
has been no sinecures or drones in this
important bee hive. Two years ago
when / was transferred from New York
to the Mexican border l protested and
tried to argue the question at the treas
ury department. l brought all my
'auence to bear, but was politely but
emplaticaliy told that there were hun
dred men or more ready and waiting to
take my Job at the same salary. l
went"
"What is your experience in general
as to desirable and undesirable imml-
gration?"
"rhat could not give in detail, but l
will summarize. The most desirable i'm
migrants coming to this country in the
past few years, within my experience,
that's, who come in large numbers, are
the Germans, Hollanders Tor Dutch
and Scandinavians. The immigration
from the British Isles is not so large as
in former years. Scotland and Wales
send principally skilled mechanics;
England, gardeners, grooms, and walt
ers for the swell hotels; Ireland, states
men, aldermen and policemen. Those
foreigners come to this country with the
full intention OF becoming bona tide
citizens. and as an evidence OF good
faith nine-tenths of them go before the
courts and take out their declaration
PAPERS. The first three nationalities
named are hardy, healthy aud industri-
Gus. They bring their. families and
some money with them. There are no
paupers among them. They do not
swarm in the cities, but as rule go to
the great agricultural country of the
west. As to the Objectionable classes,
they are mostly from parts OF Russia,
Poland, Austria and Italy. Yet there
are many good people among these, and
l would not condemn them
as a whole, but will simply say
that those nationalities have given more
trouble to the immigration officials at
the various immigrant landings than
all others. They furnish large ma:
iority OF the paupers, criminals and
contract Iaborers with which We have
had to deal and turn back to tho land
of their nativity. Their habits Of living
and herding together like sheep, with
little attention to cleanliness or sanitary
laws, is calculated to engender disease
and epidemics. Then the great body
OF Italians land here in the early spring,
with about clothes enough to wad q gun
and no money. They tramp in gangs,
find employment on some railroad or
other public works, save dollar and
twenty cents out of dollar and forty
per dav, and in December they return
TO their native sunny cline with an
average to each one OF two hundred OF
our good American dollars, after he has
paid his steerage passage. Does he stay
there2 No; he invests that two hun
bred and comes back next spring after
another. In few years he is an Italian
prince and stays there as landed arls-
tocrat. It has been estimated that ten
millions Of our money goes to Europe
and is invested that way every year.
Eyes, sir, am heartily in favor OF
the passage and strict enforcement OF
restrictive immigration laws. 1t is
time to call halt against making the
United States dumping ground for all
the otI.scourings OF Europe. II it is
kept up we will soon lose our distinct
i've American individuality. lind this
continent To nrevail everywhere, re-
gardless OF politics, creed or birthplace.
Decidedly, am in favor OF the pro-
posed law to suspend immigration for
one year from the 1st Of March next. If
for no other reason, it will be a strong
preventive against the introduction OF
cholera, which, should it come, would
ruin and make a failure OF our Worlds
Fair. self protection is the first
law ETC."
The colonel then began to hum, "NIy
Country, IT'S OF Thee" and the report
err said goodbye quick. Colonel Jake
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