Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24

the question OF immigration, which Is sure
to come before Congress this session in
such serious form as to demand immedi-
ate attention. Mr.. Layton intends en-
bodying the observations and statistics
which follow in his official report Mr.
Layton said:
Larger Flood Than Ever Before.
''The distress in Europe since last sum-
mer, the harsh policy of Russia toward its
Hebrew subjects, and the comparatively
prosperous condition of this country have
combined to throw upon our shores larger
number of the poorest and least desirable
immigrants than ever before. There is no
reason to believe that these conditions will
change to any great extent this year. and the
tide of immigration is more likely to in
crease than to decrease. Few people real
ize how enormous the volume of immi-
grafton is. Take last month for instance,
the month of March, and at the port of New
York alone over 49, immigrants were
landed, or an average of L. 400 day. A
small town, nav, pretty big town as towns
60 out West, added to the country's popu-
lation each dayl The steamers from the
German ports, especially, carry prodigious
last month the Friesland brought ], Ill, the
Damstadt 1, 1853, and the Wessernland ], ,476
steerage passengers.
"What is being done to check the en-
trance Of undesirable immigrants? Not .
great deal, perhaps, but more than has ever
been done before. Superintendent of I'm
migration Owen told the Congressional COM
mittee who were investigating the admis-
sion of immigrants infected with typhus
fever at Ellis Island, the other day, that
from April 1, 1891, to January 81, 1892, 676
contract laborers had been barred, 481
immigrants had been excluded as likely to
become public charge, 96 had been re-
turned as having become public charge
within one year, and 2,116 had been ad-
mitted under bonds. The total number
sent back for all reasons from April 1, 1891,
to January 81, 1892, was 1,253.
inspectors Need More Power.
'Pittsburg and the surrounding district
has been especially favored with burden
some immigrants, for have returned within
year no less than 46 could have sent
back many more whose cases investigated
partially had the law given me fuller
powers. It is here that am inclined to
think that an effective amendment or rather
addition to the present immigration law
might be made At present when I am
called upon to investigate a case the i'm
migrant can remain to be investigated or
not as he pleases. Very often he gets
scared and disappears, and becomes in time
a charge upon some other community. I'm
migration inspectors should have power to
arrest immigrants who are for any of the
reasons specified in the act of March, 1891,
persons to be denied our hospitality.
"a place where such persons can be secure
Iv detained pending examination should also
be specified, for at present even where there
has been fragrant infraction Of the immigra-
tion laws We have to depend upon the cour-
tesy of county and city authorities for the
of the immigrant to be re-
turned. am convinced that this country
clude the vicious and those who are unable
to earn living here. Some undesirable
immigrants must always creep in, but the
percentage is too large at present for the
well-being of the nation.
'The restrictions of the present law have |
done good, but think it will be found that |
they must be made more stringent before |
they will filter tho stream of immigra tion |
The most dependent class of |
immigrants is naturally the m ost ignorant;
! majority of those who have been deported |
from my district were as ignorant as a man |
dispatched to his native land last week, |
who didn't know the month or year of his |
birth, didn't know what day he sailed for
his country, didn't know the name of the
line of steamers or the steamer upon which |
be came, or whether he landed in New York |
Or Philadelphia. OF course he couldn't
read or write-yery few of those who are
;urned back can.
'It is my belief founded upon experience
he piofro IF -
aw of 1890 that the educational test favored
BY many persons having a practical ac-
1uaintance with the subject, the test being
,he ability to read and write in the ordinary
acceptance of the words, would exclude
,ver 80 per cent of the immigrants now en-
ering the country. Those excluded would
,e the least desirable element. At present
he law excludes All idiots, insane per-
ons, paupers or persons likely to become a
public charge, persons suffering from q
oathsome or dangerous disease, persons
Who have been convicted of felony or
'ther infamous crime or misdemeanor in
,oIving moral turpitude, polygamists and
lso any person whose ticket or passage is
aid for with the money of another, or who
$ assisted by Others to come
Some of the Checks Proposed.
"Among the many additional checks to
proposed are the educational
est, property and character qualification,
he former to be not less than. $500; the
of all persons over As years
f age; the exclusion of certain nationalities
7hich have been found undesirabIe; the
xclusion of all immigrants for short