St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-17
Text Of the Circular Regard
ing Entry Of Emigrant-
Carrying Vessels.
The Measures Of Ppeeautior
Against the Pest Cannot
Be Relaxed.
Principal Danger Arises From
Passengers Who Arrive
in the Steerage.
Treasury Officials Prevent the
Landing Of the Passen-
gers Of a Steamer.

WASHINGTON, Nov, 16.-Acting Sec
retary Spalding today issued the fol-
lowing circular TO customs officers in re,
gard to the entry of vessels carrying i'm,
migrants:
"The department has received au,
thentic assurance that the danger Of
cholera infection still exists, and that
the measures of precaution which have
been heretofore observed cannot be ma
terIalIy relaxed without imperiling the
public safety. In order that the pro-
visions of its Circular No. $50, of Sept.
l, 1892. shall be uniformly applied, Off
GERS having supervision over the arri-
val of vessels are instructed as follows:
81. The department adheres to its
construction OF the term Immigrant as
used in circular-l50 and holds that any
person who arrives from his home
in foreign country with the Intention
of making permanent settlement here
is all immigrant within tine terms of
said circular,
~. Experience has demonstrated
that the principal
Danger of Infection
through immigration arises from pas
SengerS brought over IN the steerage.
The crowding of emigrants to the ex-
treme limits Of the storage accommOda-
tions of many ships, the considerable
quantity and character OF their baggage
and personal effects, and the consequent
difficulty of maintaining those cOndi-
tons of cleanliness and ventilation
which are demanded by sanitary laws,
are among the causes which create
Inl ~ nj hn
class of immigrants referred to. These
peris to not arise from transportation
of passengers in the cabin, and the de-
partment finds no occasion to Interfere
with the landing of the latter after they
have passed the inspection of local
health authorities.
''3. The objections to the unre-
stricted admission of steerage elnigrants
do not apply to vessels in which the
steerage is occupied by a limited num-
Der of citizens and residents of the
United States and their families who
are likely to avail themselves of the
cheaper fares afforded by voyage tickets
Ill returning to this country.
Applies 10 Cabin Passengers.
IL No vessels bringing foreign
emigrants in the steerage will be re-
lieved from the restrictions contained in
Circular No. $50. Vessels bringing no
such steerage passengers but emigrantS
on board as cabin passengers viii not
be refused entry after having passed
the local quarantine, but will be sub
jected to the regulations contained in
the following instructions addressed to
the commissioner of immigration Sept.
"a last:
sit is represented that you have in
formed steamship companies that you
will require personal examination OF all
cabin passengers by a surgeon. boarding
officer and registry clerks. This is not
deemed necessary, and 1t is proDabie
that you are misunderstood. A careful
examination of the cabin passengers by
experienced officers on leaving the ship
will be sufficient. You will only detain
for examination such foreigners as you
have reason to believe to be from
infected ports upon such eXamin-
alton, among the passengers who
are removing to this country for per
manent residence. A record eXami-
nation of all cabin passengers is not con-
templated by any instructions OF the
department.
ssThe Inspection
thus provided for is enforced because
the department has information which
shows that persons of the prohibited
class, notably contract laborers, have
been found to arrive in cabin, in at
tempted evasion OF the law. All emf
grants coming as cabin passengers will
be compelled to undergo the required
examination, which is also desirable i'll
order to insure the collection of mead
tax on passengers not citizens of the
United States. This examination does
not necessarily entail any detention of
the vessel. as it will be made during
the landing of the passengers, but all
immigrants will be subjected to such
restraint and disinfection as the COM
missioner of immigration may consider
requisite, and any baggage which shall
appear TO have been insufficiently dis
infected shall, before delivery, be dis
infected at the expense of the con-
signees of the vessel. This circular, so
far as it modifies any Instructions pre-
vionsly issued, will be applied to those
sailing from foreign ports on and after