The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-21

CIOSlng OoWn on anarchists
The fact that the senate has passed
and the house committee on judiciary
favorably reported Senator Hills bill
for the exclusion and deportation of
alien anarchists renews attention to u
measure which it is said will supersede
the Stone immigration bill and be the
only legislation of the session bearing
on the question Of the closer supervi
sion of alien newcomers. The bill
provides that every immigrant shall
be examined by board of inquiry as
to his opinions regarding the Ameri-
can theory of government and as to
whether he belongs to any society or
association of known anarchistic tend
encies. The board may examine the
person suspected for marks indicative
of membership in an anarchistic soci-
ETY., and may adopt evidence of the
immigrants common reputation as an
anarchist, and declarations of foreign
governments and police notifications
shall be deemed sufficient, unless sue
cessfully cOntroverted, to prevent his
admission.
The superintendent Of immigration
is given power to investigate the rec
ord and reputation Of any alien anar-
chist who may already be in this coun-
try, and shall have him conveyed so
the port of departure and returned to
the country from whence he came. If
an anarchist is discovered upon land.
ing, the vessel bringing him over is re-
quired to take him back, but if he is
already in the country at the time of
the passage Of the act he shall be re-
turned to his native country at the ex-
pense Of the United States. The bill
provides for the appointment of i'm
migration agents, not exceeding twelve
in number, at salary of 81, 500 year.
Their duties shall be to go abroad and
make Investigations in other countries
under rules and regulations prescribed
by the secretary of the treasury. There
is appropriated by the bill 100000 for
the salaries of those agents. The ap-
pointment Of the agents is left to the
secretary Of the treasury, and is not
subject to the approval of the United
States senate. This, in the opinion of
the Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia Press, from whose inter-
esting letters we have obtained much
information on the subject, makes it
possible, and also probable, that the
positions will be filled by men ap-
pointed for political services, and it also
makes it possible for the foreign steam
ship companies to have great influence
over the appointments and over the
agents after they have been selected
The additional weak points in such
a law are obvious; and as a substitute
for the Stone bill, the measure is clear
ly inadequate. But it is a first step
along new and much-needed line,
and as such deserves to be accepted
gratefully and accorded q fair test. 1t
has been suggested that in lieu of such
inquiries head tax Of from 500 to $50
be assessed on every immigrant, the
supposltion being that anarchists would
remain in Europe rather than meet
this requirement. But this idea of a
head tax is repellent, even if constitu.
tonal, which is doubtful; and its indis-
criminate punishment of innocent and
guilty alike would never recommend
it to American favor. Let us give the
bill a trial. If weak, it can be
strengthened; if worthless, repealed.