The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-04-10
The Tmmigratinn onastion

Editor NEWS :-One OF the important meas
ures now awaiting action in congress is a bill
designed to make better citizens of fmmi.
grants coming to this country, and to lessen
the number of undesirable additions to our
population. This measure, known as H. R.
, 9246, was introduced by Representative VIII
liam A. Stone, of Pennsylvania, ana has been
favorably reported to the House by the Judic-
larry Committee.
In addition to present requirements of law.
the Immigrant is compelled by this bill to
secure from the consul or other representative
OF the United states nearest the Immigrants
last place of residence, certificate showing
that the representative has made an investi-
CATION concerning the applicant, and that the
latter is not one of those excluded from this
country under Its present laws or any law
that may be adopted 1 find the following
quotations in the report of committee, which
give some reasons why every good citizen
should favor the measure as reported: "The
purpose OF this bill Is to prevent the Grim
lnals ana paupers of Europe from being sent
here as immigrants. Statistics show that
much too large proportion OF the immigrants
now coming here are incapable of self sup
port
"By the last census, the percentage OF per-
sons born In foreign countries is about l4.77
ana yet this census shows that 26 per cent. of
the white prisoners confined in jails and sim
pie prisons are persons of foreign birth The
total number OF white convicts in our peni-
tentlar1eS whose birth place is known is % 440
composed of 3D. us native born and l4725 for
eign born, showing that more than one half OF
all white convicts are OF foreign birth. Our
benevolent institutions contain 1882 inmates
by the last census, of which the foreign born
compose "a per cent.
"The total number of white inmates of our
poor houses is %, $3.50 of which number 81 CAS- or
little over 81 per cent. were born in foreign
"The statistics show that with a foreign oopu-
lation OF l47 Der cent, more than half of our
| white penttentiary convicts and more than
nail OF tne white inmates of our poor houses,
are foreigners, and prove that of the immi-
| grants coming here during the past few years,
too many OF them are deficient in morals, and
are incapable physically OF selfsupport.
|
| grafton of criminals and paupers but use pub
lie money to pay their expenses here"
! This fact seems to be a sufficient reason why
| SO large percentage of immigrants so soon
| find themselves in our prisons and poor
houses. me means adopted have been found
Wholy inadequate to keep out OF the country
/ those really included in the excluded list
The superintendent of immigration, Ito whom
| the writer is indebted for some facts and fig
| ures herein given states that during the six
! months ending December 81, 1893, l83, OPS immi.
! grants arrived ana ,25S of them were debarred
! as falling within the list exclude by law-less
| than one per cent, you see. Now, the ex.
animation on the arrival of these immi
| grants must necessarily be wholly insufficient
| to determine whether The immigrant belongs
| to the excluded class or not and many in.
stances where he has made the long journey
| to the place of examination ana perhaps has
| expended his all in the undertaking, sym.
| pathy overcomes the doubt as to his eligibility
and he Is admitted.
Under the present system the immigrants
word has TO be taken for most of the Inquiries
and there is no means of rejecting him if he is
J ~ the loWeI Grass anu answers unJfulntully 10
i the questions now asked him by those in
charge of the ports of migration. As stated
before, the intention OF the bill III. r. 5246 is To
| prevent the criminals and paupers of Europe
from being sent here as immigrants. Besides
this The bill does not strike at any nationality,
but simply at that class OF incapables of all
nations who can be only burden to us, and
whose moral aud social influence can do us
much harm. If no other measure restricting
| immigration passes, this one should and Re
| preventative Stone, of Pennsylvania, should
receive the commentator of his constituents
| for introducing such bill, coming as ne does
from state which in the western part is over
\ run with The most undesirable class of immt
grants who have found their way not only into
! one town but into most of them. Than king
1 you for the space, remain,
Truly yours,
NIX