Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-12-08
IMMIGRATION WAY BE STOPPED.

IMMIGRATION MAY BE STOPPED.
Cleveland Leader.
The discussion of the immigration
question now being INDUCED in by the
committee of the United States Senate
in session at New York is likely to re-
suit in some sort of restrictive legisla-
tiou at the forthcoming session of Con-
gress. There seems to be pretty
general agreement among the members
of the committee that something should
be done to check, if not to stop alto
gether, the flood of foreigners that is
now pouring into the United States.
This is desirable for sanitary as well as
moral and political reasons. 1t is prob
able that the steamship manifest bill,
passed by the Senate last winter, will be
amended and passed by the House.
This is measure compelling the COM
manding officer of every steamship car
rying immigrants to give to the inspector
at the port of debarkation in this coun-
try a sworn statement as to the condition,
moral, physical, and financial, of every
immigrant brought to America il his
vessel. The manifest is to be sworn to
before the consular agent of the United
States at the European port of embarka-
tion. Such an act would greatly facili-
tate the enforcement of the existing
immigration laws. At Thursdays session
of the committee resolution was pro-
posed looking to the entire suspension
of European immigration for one year
from March l, 1898. The committee
also decided to lay before Congress a
proposition to the effect that no immi-
grant shall be admitted to the United
States between the ages of twelve and
fffty-five years, unless he can freely read
and write his native language; that no
single immigrant shall be admitted un-
less he possesses 500 in money, nor the
head of family unless he has at least
$25 for each member of his family; that
all immigrants must bring with them a
certificate from United States Consul
showing that they are entitled to ad-
mission; and that application for natur-
alization shall be subject to investigation
on the other side of the ocean.
There can be no doubt that the ques-
tion of immigration will be brought
forcibly to the attention of Congress,
and something must be done. Senator
Faulkner, of West Virginia, one of the
Democratic members of the committee,
says that, now the Presidential election
is passed, the problem can be considered
in Congress without political prejudice
or bias, and the members can, regardless
of party considerations, try to arrive at
a solution which will result in benefit to
the whole country.
The people are becoming thoroughly
aroused on the question of immigration.
AT the annual banquet of the CONNER
cial Club of Chicago the other night this
subject was the only one discussed, and
a dozen or more speakers declared that
Congress ought to take immediate action
to restrict immigration. One speaker
said:
at is true that the character of the
Ahhii duto udS CllduRcu, anu lOI buc
worse. Formerly they came to this
country and at once went to the frontier,
or more sparsely settled districts, and
opened up farms, giving materia! aid to
the development of the country. Now
they come here and at once secure a res
idence in some large city where they can
sell their vote and become factor in
politics"
The clergy in different cities are dis
cussing from the pulpit the great ma
tional peril. Rev. H. o. Gibbons, of
Philadelphia, in Thanksgiving sermon,
showed that from the founding Of the
government in 1920, 25000O immigrants
came to America. Between 1920 and
1856 the number was 964,000. During
the next thirty years about 12,500,000
foreigners came to our shores. The
preacher said:
"The great body of immigrants up to
the present time have been a source of
great national wealth and strength, re-
cent immigration has brought into our
country a great body of people who can