Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-26
CHANGES
LIN the Immigration Laws of
the United States.
Several Recommended by Sec
retary Foster.

Too Crowded While on the Atlantic
How He Would Increase the Immigrant
Fund - Steamship Lines Should BE
Bonded to Return Aliens Landed Con-
trary to Our Laws-Adyocates Prelim.
mary Inspection.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Before leav-
ing for Europe Secretary Foster signed
the following letter, containing his rec
concentrations regarding the changes
that should be made in the immigration
law which will be sent TO the house of
representatives, together with the docu-
ments referred to:
/ appointed commission in June last
with instructions to investigate in
Europe and report to me the facts re-
specting the importation into the United
States of allen contract laborers, and in
cidentally to obtain all accessible infor-
nation as to the immigration of other
classes of aliens where landing in the
United States is prohibited by our laws.
This com lission consisted of Hon.
John B. Weber, commissioner of immj-
grafton of the port of New York as chair
man, and the following named special i'm
migrant insr 7ctors Judson N. Cross, of
Minnesota; Walter Kempster, M. D., of
Wisconsin; Joseph Powderly, of Pennsyl-
rania, and Herman j. Schultteis of
Washington, d. G.
A copy of the written instruc tions un-
der which these commissioners visited
Europe is appended hereto and marked
Exhibits" The members of this COM
mission having performed their duties in
the several Countries of Europe returned
home in October and in November last,
and submitted to this department,
through thei" chairman, their several re-
ports on or about the 22d ultimo.
In partial response to the resolution
adopted by the house of representatives
on the 10th inst, / now have the honor to
transmit herewith the reports of the spe-
cial immigration commissioners to Eu-
rope, with all accompanying documents.
In doing so | venture to invite attention
to the brief expression of my views in re-
gard to existing immigration laws, as
contained in my annual report to con-
gress, submitted in November last, 1t is
further my opinion, confirmed by the re-
suits of the recent investigation in Eu
rope, that any additional legislation by
congress of the regulation of immigration
to the United States ought to cover the
following features:
First--The cubic air space for each i'm
migrant passenger on board ship ought to
be largely increased.
Second--I believe the present head tax
of fifty cents each upon alien immigrants
should be abolished, and would recon-
mend the substitution of a special license
tax upon the several steamships equal to
81 for each alien immigrant brought by
them respectively from any port of Eu
rope to any port of the United States.
The increased immigrant fund thus pro
duced could he advantageously employed
in further regulating Immigration and
importation OF alien contract
laborers.
Third-The owners or agents of each
vessel engaged in bringing alien pas
to the United States should be
required to furnish bond in a sum of
not less than $50,000 conditioned that
they will return to the countries from
which they came, all alien immigrants
brou ght by such vessels and found within
two years froln date of their landing to
have been landed contrary to the laws of
the United States.
FOURTH believe that some system of
inspection of immigrants be-
fore their embarkation at the European
ports is absolutely essential to the proper
regulation Of the immigration business.
If such a system of foreign examination
could be placed under the general super
vision of commissioners and inspectors,
appointed by this government and respon-
sble in a general way to United States
in the various countries of Europe,
| believe that much assistance would be
derived from the voluntary and efficient
cooperation Of the owners, agents and
sub-agents of the various transportation