New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-08
THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION.
HOW TO KEEP OUT UNDESIRABLE PERSONS
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION SENT TO EUROPE

ELPOET OF THE COMMISSION SENr 10 III ROPE.
LAST SUMNER.
Washington, Feb. In June. 1901, Secretary
Foster appointed Il commission for the purpose Of in
vcst!gatins in Europe the subject of immigration 10
the United States under the pro, ision, of the act
prohibiting The immigration Of alien contract aborerS
j. II. Weber, Commissioner OF immigration at New
York, was designated chairman, with Cap
tain JudsOn " Cross, DR.. Water Kemp
Ster, Joseph Powdery and H. j. schuthels
as The other members Of Tie Commlssloh'
The members OF the Commission, after completing
their invcstigation, returned to the United states pre-
pared their report and submitted it TO the secretary of
the Treasury. Commissioners Weber and KcmpSter
made Joint report, which covers the several PROPOSE
tons furnished BY the Treasury Department. hrst n
TO the causes WHICH incitc emigration These, they
state are the superior conditions ana advan-
tages in the United states higher wages fewer
hours Of labor, better living. freedom from military
duty and burdensome taxation and regulations in
volvinc freedom Of movement personal liberty. and
better opportunities for rising to higher social levels In
this country and in Russia ii due to religious prose
cution. They obtained statistics from all the great
tIansaantlc steamship companies showing that more
than go per cent OF immigrants who land here come
upon tickets sent by relatives or friends who pre-
coded tlcm and which purchased in this country.
As TO whether steamship companies stimulate emf
grafton they report that i'll the countries visited by
them this is forbidden by laws with severe
penalties. The results OF conferences held with steam
ship companies at Liverpool and Bremen are given, In
which the steamship company expressed determlna'
ton to be governed by American law, and several OF
tho lines have already issued circulars requiring all
sub-agens conform with the new instructions based
upon those laws which they quote.
As to the importation OF contract laborers they say
Congressional legislation which transferred the lmnl-
gratIoR Bureau Federal oversight has largely stopped
the wholesale practice OF suc1 operations, and that
Su( at m "A limited
Relative To the systematic shipment OF detectives,
criminals, insane etc. 10 this country, they report
that in the countrcs visited by them this is not now
done, although there is doubt that 1t was done
formerly. Concerning pauper immigration they say
that IL the standard OF paupcrism Is to be based upon
money possessions when landed. it would in times
past have excluded many who now prominent In
commercial apancal aud legislative bodies and every
way worthy as true American citizens: and. IL this
standard Is 10 be adopted II Will exclude those
who may become equally desirable. Relative to con
suar inspection etc. they report IT as impracticabh
They it is their opinion that II Congress desires
to restrict or stop immigration IL will meet that ques
ton squarelv ard not attempt To DO. By CumbrOus
and expensive machinery what may be accomplished
by direct legislation.
Their report gives in detail method Ly which all
undesirable immigrants may be prevented from ON
barking and with expense TO the United states
Briefly this plan j. to bold all steamship agent, aud
sub agents responsible for the cost Of the returned
inellgblc, which can be done under their own laws.
Tho great steamship companies have already issued
circulars 10 their suI-agen. explaining who in
eligible under laws. and naming tho sum which
Will be deducted from their salary or commission II
any person r. whom they sell ticket IS not per
mitted TO Land in the United states. The subagent
being the first person to whom the intending emlTant
apple, for information. and generally at or near his
home frirnishc, the inquirer with blank form to b.
filled out. II he is ineligible no Is informed: II
eligible the emiCrant takes TIE form with him to the
Office Of the port 10 which he sails All doubtful
case, to be referred to the Treasury ID parment
and reply received before the cmgrant Will BE- per-
mt.d ~ embark.
The report suggests that our law, be amended 50 a,
to compel the return To their own counties Of all
paupcrs they becme pauperizcd all Grim
nas after serving ont sentence up t. the time Of thir
becoming null citizens. is done by every country
they visited except England. Attention is called 10
tho necessity OF guarding the Canadian borders to
prevent inelgibes from crossing
Eclatiyc 10 the return movement Of mechanics and
laborcrs who 20 back and forth they report that this
movement IS les than Is generally supposed. The
large number Of IcN-s emierating from Russia IN
viewed thorough investigation Of the causes exist
Ing in that country which produce this outflow. The
conclusions Of the commissioners that the terrible
prosecutions based almost entirely upon religious
grounds. and must. il continued drive out the entire
population Of The 30 allied unorthodJX
In those countries vi ted by Commissioner Gross
he found that far the netting emigration
concerted. the same general conditions exist a,
above described. \, to whether emigration Is pro
NOTED or stimulated by steamship comlanics. Com
mi>,9ner Cross says. that IN al counties Wis
ted b, him. except Italy, inc believes that
tie general agents throughout Europe now desire
10 harmonic the business aud discipline Their a-ehie
80 - bring themselves and their agents within the
rule, contained In United states lawa tn rccpnce To
selling tickets - objectionable cnierdns to the inlOf
State Relative 10 the employment ~ contract
laborcs for exploration the United states he says
thar he was not succcs,ful I'm finding many cases, al
fnourh he Is under the impression that there are
individual OF persons VINO return 10 Europe ri
the instance Of employers 10 brlng out operatives
He bellies that the many Italian employment agencies
and sO.called banks in NcS-l Ork and other places
induce thousands II Italians to come here assured max
they Will he provided with labor arrival in
New York. Concerning the extent 10 which pIupels,
criminals and so-called defective classes Insane,
idiots, contagious diseases, ETC. aided by foreign
governments and societies to emgrst" Commissioner
Cros, that he found no evidence that this Is now
carried on, but that there Is Systematic landing on
our shores Of the cOnvct5 Of Great Britain and ttat
he has positive proof that from England Ireland ana
scotland during the last eleven years, there has been
II systematic. widespread and thoroughly orcanH"l
movement known. encouraged and patronzcd by the
Government Of Great Britain, for the purpose OF send
ing conycts aud eN-cOnvicts TO the United
states. The passage and MONEY "
Lc,n them w.ilc seeding employment
here I, furnished directly by the "ovcrnment 81 Great
Nri;ain expcnded through discharged prisoners aid
soci,ies" which are provided for by the Act for the
More Effective Prevention 81 Crime passed lusuu9t
~ l-7i and amendments thereto aud that by THIS
systematic deportation of convcis and executives The
number; under surveillance have ben reduced from
missioner Cross says thai before prisoner are dls
charged some person connected with th" frlHohcI'
Aid society visits the convict In prison and arI;useS
with him to 20 10 the United stale,
II the prisoner accepts. tlr ''oN'il,i"c.'
pays 10 the society taking him IN charge
he of So This sum pay, his passage To inc
United states aud leaves him about 9l2 30 on MS 9r
rival mere and that In many Instances II te convict
nceds money after he arrives in the United states IN"
society sends IL To him Boston the principal port
10 which these person, have been ,ent.
A. preliminary inquiries Of the home status u
intending emigrant> by transportation 'oihPdl ol
their agent, In Europe AID n, ;hc impr1ctcabity