Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-12
TO VISIT ELLIS ISLAND
The House immigration Committee to
Observe the Inspections.
The Information That Representative
Gefsscnhniner Says They viii
EndeavOr to Obtain.

This week has been decided upon by the
House committee on immigration for its
visit to Ellis Island to secure informa ton
on the system of regulation and inspections
in force under the new laws. With one ex-
ception the members Of the committee have
siGnifed their intention of taking part In
the inspection. and they will leave Wash
ington Friday to remain In New York three
or four days.
Chairman Geissenhainer Of the committee
has returned from an advance visit to make
arrangements for the trip. He was at Ell
lis Island Saturday and Sunday, and saw
the landing and inspection of 400 arrivals
from Russia and 40 from Ireland. Most of
these went west, some to California and
not few who could not speak English
were tagged through to their friends
Speaking of the intended trip. Represen-
tative Getssenhainer said: THE committee
hopes to get information on every point
possible. and store il up for future discus
sion and action. Its object is not to inter
fere with the principles of the laws that
are now working well, but to amend and
strengthen them In details where II seems
necessary. Between the wide opinions of
the country or the House, 1t would be hard
to agree upon any radical changes now,
even II IT was thought necessary. One man
Is for open doors, one for entire exclusion.
Some demand Il property qualification for
immigrants. others education quaiifica-
ton. We want l take it. the system which
will admit those capable of assimilating
with our civilization and uphoiding our in
stitutions, those who will become producers
and not consumers alone.
One Defect to BE Remedied.
There is one defect in the present law the
committee desires to remedy We cannot
connect the contract laborer with the en-
ployer. He is sent back home and then
your witness is gone. Some say to take his
affidavit and ship him away. but we haven't
force enough at the offices to take affidavits.
The employer rather than the laborer is the
party who should De punished for these
violations of the law. Emigrants cannot
complain that injustice is worked. however.
for placards are posted in all foreign Of
fees of steamship companies and elsewhere
giving the law in the various foreign Ian
guages. Incidentally the committee wants
to know the cause of the falling off in i'm
migration, whether IL Is due to the new
laws. to the tariff, or to the financial de-
preston and impoverishment of the world.
think the decrease is due to the law.
Every large manufacturing country Is ex,
that we are. SO that as conditions of buS{
ness are equal. the decrease must be due ID
another agency. There have been returned
LOO men under the new law in q year,
where 400 were returned under the old.
There must be a reason. Another question
which the committee hardly considers with
In Its province to investigate but which
Congress should be enlightened upon so as
enlightenment can be obtained, is whether
the labor troubles of recent years, those of
which the Homestead strike may be taken
as the best example, are due to contract
labor or to natural causes II contract abor
Is responsible we know what to do. II they
arise from natural causes every case ohould
have its own remedy"