The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-10
REGULATION OF IMKIGRATION.

It is said that the administration is ar
ranging the details of a system by which
the immigrant arriving at any port in the
United States will be followed in his
wanderings until he settles down as a resi-
dent. 1t is believed that good many
foreigners no sooner land upon our shores
than they set out on criminal paths, while
many others at once take the road to the
poor house, having that object in view
when they left their native land. Just
what the government expects to do with
the information which it will gather as the
result of the operation of its spy system is
not stated. A man having landed, il will
matter little to him or TO society, whether
the government is aware that he goes to
work to get an honest living or becomes q
thief or robber. The fact that record of
his movements is kept in a federal bureau
will not make him less industrious nor less
criminal. 1t seems to US that the pro-
posed plan will accomplish nothing. 1t
will turn no psupers out of almshouses and
Keep no criminals out of the prisons.
What is wanted is a scheme by which the
Objectionable classes can be kept out of the
country. II the administration can devise
and put into operation plan by which Of
fensive foreigners can be prevented from
landing, some good will be accomplished.
The plans heretofore suggested have been
both impracticable and unjust. 1t is not
the policy nor would it be to the advantage
of the United States to close our ports to
an immigrant because he is poor, yet some
! !, hoe
mltted to land until he gives satisfactory
evidence of ability to provide for himself
and that he will not become public charge
within specified period No such evil
dence can be given except by the rich, and
they do not come to America to live;
furthermore, it ought not to be accepted as
conclusive that because man is poor he
is likely to so to the penitentiary or the
poorhouse. Any of US can name
at Castle Garden with no more
money than would pay for railway ticket
to their objective destination, but who have
committed no crimes, have been no tax
upon the community and are prosperous
and progressive citizens, some of them very
wealthy If they had been turned back a,
the immigration office the country would
have been the loser. The overwhelming
majority Of the foreign born residents Of
the United States were extremely poo,
when they came, about sll they had upor
landing being their clothing. They came
here because they were poor and ambitious
and the fsct that they have developed init
excellent citizens is complete vindicetior
of the iberality of our immigration laws.
The matter is one requiring the exercise
of the very best statesmanship The CD.
portunities for mischief are abundant
Because some criminal and some paupey
foreigners come we do not want to close
our ports to the poor but honest and am
bilious people of Europe who seek oul
shores TO better their material condition
and enjoy the benefits of our NOR,
liberal government Because the owner,
of coal and iron mines and mill and factor,
propr:etors now and then smuggle through
gangs of foreign laborers to take the places
of self-respecting Americans who will no
work for starvation pay, we should not sa,
that no man born abroad shall come here u
work
1t is not records as to what becomes O
immigrants that we want, but a practica