New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-24
TO RESTRICT IMMIGRATION.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF AN EDUCA-
TIONAL TEST
WHAT MR. WARDS INSPECTION OF ELLIS ISLAND
DIscIosED-HE WANTS THE McALL
BILL PASSED.
rpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

[pY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington April 23.-Robert Dec. Ward, chair
man of the Executive Committee Of the Immigra-
ton Restriction League has just returned from a
tour of inspection at Ellis Island. ". Y, and Is
now In Washington to urge immediate action on
the Mccall bill to apply the educational test to inn
migrants arriving at the various American ports.
To Tribune correspondent Mr.. Ward said:
THE immigration problem. without doubt one Of
the most important questions before Congress to-
day. has been brought into especial prominence by
reason OF the large increase OF immigration from
Italy within the last few weeks. The immigration
Restriction League. OF whose Executive Commit
tee am chairman has just concluded an investi.
CATION into the Italien immigration at Ellis Island
In New-York Harbor. Together with two other
members OF the Executive Committee OF tho
League spent last Sunday and Monday on tho
Island and gathered some interesting statistics.
On these two days we saw 1,JOO immigrants iano.
Our papers have already given figures regarding
this sudden influx of Italians. Speaking roughly.
over 1000 a week are now landing in New-York
and about 1000 are the ocean or are waiting FOR
a chance TO embark. In almost all cases tney are
leaving their country TO escape military service
and in their hurry to get away are crowding tho
steamers from northern European ports as well as
those from Naples and Genoa, the latter not oe'hs
able to accommodate them.
Through the courtesy OF DR.. Joseph II. Senner.
Commissioner OF immigration In New-York, nave
Jus, looked the manifests or several steamers
which arrived at New-York during the last two
weeks Statistics to 5000 immigrants were mus
obtained and these statistics may be taken as In
dicatlve OF the general character Of the present
Italian Immigration l cannot give the exact
figures as they are now in the hands Of the Publ
cation Committee OF the immigration Restriction
League I'm Boston. and will shortly be puoilsheo.
but speaking roughly may say tnat praclica"y al
the Italians who now coming are males tha'
nearly. II not quite rs per cent OF them are aoso-
lutely illiterate and that over three-quar.ers Vi
them have no destination beyond New-forh O'y
and State Nearly nine-tenths Of them know no
ID and can only work as day laborers. while
tho large majority have considerably less than 'o
Such additions TO population are certainly very
undesirable They are leaving their own e0'
because they do not want to hght for hei' ING,
are leaving their wives and familles at hoi"e' INV
,hev come here not because they love this country
and want to become American ctizehS' Du'
cause II Is the cheapest and easiest place 10 reach
..rh, ,mm,pratIon officials in New-York are en-
,orc,ng the present laws rigdly, and many are peiie
debarred as paupers. or the 1900 looked up '"'
say that perhaps to 10 per cent were ueo" -
This is good far as 1t goes, but the present 70.
do not 20 far enough. We must remember '"a'
,h,s I,,,,an immigration IL only one phase OF the
general problem which Is daily becoming moie m
por,ant The immigration OF the undesirao'e 'a1e
from, tho south and east of Europe has increaseu
very greatly In recent years. and instead OF 80, III
,rihutine only one one-hundredth or our tota in,
Grafton as they did In 1870 Italy, austria "a y,
nussa and Poland now give us ABOUT one nan VI a.
our Enumeration. These people as a Wnole ar Wv.
or ,ded uns<il,ed laborers. very niterate, no ~.
raadilv ossimiate with US. and are not uesireu W
The country at large. The educational test u ,nn
renortad bv the House Committee on IIiiiIIis ~
,s - very moderate measure IL excludes Hlaes -.
tween sixteen and sixty VINO cannoS - n.rents
English or some other language rurtneI, PAL ai 80
~ nersons now living in or hereafter admitteu ~
,hie country are excepted In this way flfniiies wiz
no, no Avoided and much hardship ana injustice WI.
ho avoided This test has the great merit tnat !,
a. seif-actIng and Will prevent persons VINO wouu
no dcharred on arriving here from starting irp,
,h.,r homes In the first place. For the steaHishp
agents will themselves apply the test III rrdi Po
n,ithou, expense to us, and no one VINO wouII u ~,
"ycln5ed nv our inspectors on the ground Oh IL
i,teracv will be allowed TO purchase pass,ase
,iclfet In this way much hardship now ehdureu pS
aho rrad aliens on the return voyage VIII oe
7 feo Try strongly that no legislation wnlch tne
,r.san, Congress can enact would be met with more
on the part of the people at large IMAM
tho massage OF an educational test DIN. All. !.
omgbt ,o no passed at once if the dangers .nat
,Trna ION us in our present undesirable immigration
arc n he guarded against. 1t Is not oniy American
- c,t,1ens that favor such a Dill. Many OF the
innding Scandlna vian German and otner foreign
nannrs nublished here support IT. Dr. Senner. me
ssstoner of immigration In New-f YORK. himseit
Enrrnan nv birth and a high authority on imini-
ara,,an ia also In favor of IL. .
sb adwocates OF the bill making earnest ef-
ne "a secure consideration OF the measure at this
session ION Saturday OF this week IL Possioie,. aa
So pnref, Of success There IL no doubt that IL
Iii naes rhe House OF Representatives by large
" vi ioritv II a vote be reached.