Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-20
EVILS OF INN MIGRATION
Interesting Correspondence Sent to the
Senate by Secretary Carlisle
Difficulties That Surround the Pro-
cious Italian Padrone System.

The Secretary of the Treasury today sent
to the Senate a reply to Senator Chambers
resolution of the 14th instant concerning
the padrone system, inclosing a statement
from the superintendent of immigration.
and also copies of correspondence between
the Secretary of State. Baron Fava, the
italian ambassador, and the Secretary of
the Treasury
This correspondence was initiated by Am
bassador Fava in a letter dated at the
Italian Embassy on the 10Th Of April, in
which the minister said that the precarious
condition in which the Italian immigrants
find themselves on their arrival in the
United States on account of the Italian
SPECTATORS who get hold of them deserves
10 De taken into serious consideration. The
immoral traffic originates in the evil of the
padronf' tbosses). who find means in the
United states to ransom outrageously the
italian immigrants with more or less un-
fortunate consequences. which are to be de-
plored. In my opinion" continued the
ambassador, the only way to protect the
Italian immigrants against the rapacity of
the padroni would be to establish in the
ports of arrival bureaus of labor or other
similar offices. duly authorized and recog-
Dized by the federal government. The OBJ
Ject and duty of said offices would be to
direct the immigrants toward the district
OF colonization or to the agricultural and
Industrial districts of the country, where
labor is requested. This would prevent
their agglomeration at the large ports on
arrival when they fall invariably into the
hands Of the padroni."
Secretary Carlisle's Suggestion.
This letter was transmitted to the Sec
retary Of the Treasury by the Secretary Of
State. In his reply Secretary Carlisle gives
assurance of the willingness Of his depart
ment to cooperate In the suppression of the
Objectionable business. He calls attention
to the fact that there is an employment
bureau in connection with the immigrant
depot at Ellis Island. which, he says, Is
taken advantage of by all nationalities. ex-
cept Italians. He thinks the labor bureaus
proposed by Ambassador Fava would be
unlawful and impracticable He suggests
that Baron Fava be invited to visit Ellis
Island and ascertain how many Of the Ital-
ian immigrants can be induced to give up
their preconceived plans and intentions.
He further suggests that the Italian gov
ernment could materially assist the govern
ment OF this country in suppressing this
traffic by sending emissaries into the dis
trfcts from which emigrants principally
leave, who, through the press and by
speeches and by personal contact with
those who cannot read, should warn the
intending emigrants of the padroni system.
He also says that under the contract labor
law such immigrants could be prevented
from landing. and the padroni punished If
PROOF could be obtained, but that II Is al
illOSt lHlpOSSlDle TO secure the PROOF.
In second letter. dated on the 18th in
slant, Secretary Carlisle says he has d.
rected that room be set apart in the i'm
migration station at Ellis Island, where in
ducements to immigrants shall be displayed
from the various sections of the country,
and where the Italian government can have
persons stationed to advise with the i'm
migrants. and through whom the immi-
grants shall be allowed to pass upon land
Ing.
Traffic in Human Beings Spreadinx.
Commissioner Stump. in his letter, states
that there Is no official record Of the extent
to which the padroni system prevails in
the United States, but that 1t can be safely
said that large portion of the Italian i'm
migration (men. women and children) have
been and are at the present time imported
uhoer conditions of servitude. Moreover.
he asserts that this traffic In human beings
Is spreading to immigrants arriving from
Japan, Syria, Arabia and other countries.
Mr. Stump also calls attention to the fact
that while there has been large decrease
In the volume Of immigration during the
present year, this decrease Is less marked
from Italy than from any other country.
he also states that after the investigat tion
made by the Ford committee during the
Ftftteth Congress the padrone changed his
manner of doing business, adding: He
became ostensibly an Italian banker and
now conducts his affairs secretly through
agents or bosses, both in Italy and the
United States. The illiterate immigrant
in most cases becomes an easy and willing
victim to their promises Of assistance In
procuring for him employment in a foreign
land. He Is invariably posted before leaving
his native country as to the answers II will
be necessary for him to make In order to
gain admittance into this country and is
warned moreover to distrust each and every
American he meets. Arriving with this idea
firmly imbued in his mind 1t is impossible
for our inspectors to procure sufficient in
formation from him to warrant a prose-
cution of the padroni''
| In conclusion Mr.. Stump renews his re-
quest for an appropriation of 100000 for
the enforcement of the contract labor law.