The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-22
Foreigners Coming to America to BE In
spected at Port of Departure-Pro-
posed Head Tax of 500.
ELECTION OF SENATOR'S
Amendment to the Constitution
Favored by the House.
Popular Vote Resolution Passed by a
Large MajOrity-RepOrt on the
Pacific Railways Bill.

WASHINGTON, July 2.-The congress
sionaI authorities on immigration laws are
much exercised over the passage of Repre-
sentative William ~ Stones immigration
bill in the House yesterday while most OF
the members were watching the exciting
scenes in the Senate. The Stone bill is far
reaching in its effect on the system of in
speeding immigrants, the entire inspec-
ton is transferred to foreign ports and
placed in the hands of United States con-
suls instead of waiting for inspection at
New York and other ports when the immi-
grant arrives in this country.
Il expect to see the bill taken up by the
Senate at early day and passed. said
Mr.. Stone. Already, several Senators who
recognize the evils of immigration have
signified their purpose TO urge ii to speedy
passage. The present immigration system
has proved a failure. Immigrants keep
coming without reference TO restrictions.
The system is wrong. as it leaves the i'm
migrant 10 furnish all the information
which he is to be received or rejected"
Mr.. Stone was asked If removal of the
inspection system to foreign ports would
not necessitate a large force of inspectors
or else give the consuls additional work,
emitting them to additional pay.
NO" said he. efforts have been made to
so change the bill as to let the Treasury
Department appoint the foreign inspectors.
Such change would necessitate the ere
alton of large force of officeholders But
the bill stands the United States con-
suls. who are not overburdened with work,
will have charge of the inspection
1t is understood that Senators Davis,
Chandler and Quay will particularly inter-
est themselves in the Stone bill with view
10 its early adoption.
Representative Meikeljohn. speaking in
regard 10 his bill providing for a tax of
klOO on each alien emigrant, said to-day:
when the population Of this Nation in
creaSeS by more than a half million of for
eign immigrants annually the limitation of
foreign immigration has become a question
of national Importance. We have developed
our natural resources and sustained the
standard or American wages through the
leVying of duty manufactures Of for
eign labor. Wages are subject to the law
of supply and demand. and wage earners
are much interested in preserving our
field Of labor for the American wage work.
er as the protection of the products of his
labor from the competition of the foreign
manufacturer. The policy of placing duty
on impOrtations CT the product of foreign
workmen al a rate sufficient to equaliZe
the difference between our domestic and
foreign cost of labor has established an in
comparable scale of wages in this Nation
for our wage earners, ana which, in my
judgment, only be maintained by ex-
tending the same beneficent policy to the
immigration of foreign laborers. The bill
which have proposed eXempts all relatives
of American citizens or any laborer who
has declared his intention to become such,
who may desire to emigrate to the United
States while a duty of 500 per capita is
levied upon all other alien immigrants. All
citizens, whether native or foreign born,
are alike interested IN keeping from our
shores the class of immigration which this
measure would prohibit.