Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-02
SOME ANSWERS WANTED
The immigration Commission Propounds
Some Exceedingly Pertinent Questions
The Extent of the PadrOne System
Remedies for Existing Evils Asked
scattering Emigrants.

The immigration commissioners, recently
APPOINTED by the Secretary OF the Treasury,
have prepared and are now sending to
workmen in all trades labor organizations
governors of states and others interested
in immigration matters circular letters
asking for information bearing upon the
subject. The circular to workingmen asks
for replies to the following inquiries:
1. What changes. If any, in the rules and
regulations now in force are necessary in
order to secure a more efficient execution of
existing laws relating to immigration and
the laws prohibiting the importation of
alien laborers under contract
2. Whether said laws are defective in any
particular. and what practical difficulties
If any. have been encountered in their ex-
ecution. .| Is
3. What effect, If any. immigration has
had upon the wages of labor or opportuni-
ties for employment in the United States,
and whether or not the existing Industrial
condition of the country is attributable in
any degree to the influx Of laborers from
abroad.
what. can be adopted under existing legis-
lation to discourage the concentration of
immigrant laborers in particular localities
and to secure a better distribution of i'm
migrants whose admission to the country
Is not prohibited by law.
8. Whether the 'padrone" system exists
In this country. and. IL so, to what extent
and among what classes of immigrants, and
what measures can be taken under exist
ing laws to break 1t up and protect Ameri-
can laborers against its evil effects upon
wages, and at the same time improve the
social and economical condition of the i'm
migrants.
Continuing. the circular said:
THE commissioners have also been d.
rected to seizure and report such informal
ton, from all available sources, as will
enable the department to employ its official
force in the most effective manner for the
enforcement Of the immigration and con-
tract labor laws, according to their true
intent and purpose, and to suggest such
amendments as experience may have shown
to be necessary In order to adapt them to
existing conditions.
THE honorable Secretary of the Treas
ury is deeply interested in learning exactly
the views entertained by the workingmen
In your trade with reference to all these
matters, particularly SO far as they bear
upon the industry in which you are en-
gagged and cognate industries concerning
which you have incidental knowledge. We
believe that the most effective aid can be
rendered by you by bringing to light and
presenting in practical way the facts
Of your craft and the difficulties with
which you have to contend, and by suggest
ing and divising means for supplying RENE
dies for any evils that may exist"
From Governors.
In addition to the inquiries sent to work.
ingmen the circular sent to the governors
Of states by the commission contains the
following:
1T has been pertinently suggested for
consideration whether a solution of the
whole immigration problem might not be
found in the proper distribution of i'm
migrants throughout the United States by
making 1t possible for them to be supplied
with information as to the need. or lack
OF need. Of labor in various sections of the
country, and to enable them, by tinl..ly
advice and suggestions to proceed to points
where labor Is in demand. For, concede ed
ly, II Is not enough to exclude undesirable
immigrants. Even desirable immigrants
should be located. If possible. in those parts
of the country where they are most needed
and where. at the same time, they can best
prosper. So that at least one phase of the
problem seems to be to induce aliens who
come here for the purpose of settlement,
and who are not within the excluding terms
of the law, to settle only in those localities
where. In all reasonable proba ability they
will secure to themselves and our country
the most lasting benefit and advantage"