The evening times., 1897-03-03

| OF the proposed legislation already refer
| red to from obvious hardship appear TO
| me to be Indefinite and Inadequate
| "A parent. grandparent, wife, or minor
| child of a qualified immigrant. though un-
able 70 read and write, may accompany
the immigrant or be sent for TO join his
| family, provided the immigrant is capable
| of supporting such relative These excep
tiQns to the general rule OF exclusion con-
tanned in the bill were made to prevent
the separation OF families: and yet neither
brothers nor sisters are provided for. In
order that relatives who are provided for
may be reunited, those stiIl in foreign lands
must be sent for to join the immigrant here.
What formality is necessary TO constitute
this prerequisite and how are the facts Of
relationship and that the relative is sent
for TO be established? Are the illiterate
relatives OF immigrants who have come
here under prior laws entitled TO the al
vantage OF these exceptions? A husband
who can read and write, and who de-
terIuines to abandon his illiterate wife
abroad will find here, under this law, an
absolutely safe retreat.
The ilIiterate relatives mentioned must
not only be sent for, but such immigrant
must be capable OF supporting them when
they arrive. This requirement prs 2eds
upon the assumption that the forei feia-
tives coming here are in every case, by
reason OF poverty, liable TO become a
public charge unless the immigrant Is
capable of their support. The contrary
is very often true And yet If unable 60
read and write, though quite able and
willing to support themselves and their
relatives here besides, they could not he
admitted under the provisions OF this
bill. IL the immig grant was impoverished,
though the aid OF his fortunate, hut IL
literate relative. might he the means OF
saving him from pauperism.
"Tne fourth section of this bill provides
that it shall be unlawful for any male
alien who has not / u good faith made his
declaration before the proper court of his
intention to become citizen of the United
STATES to be employed on any public works
of the United States or to come regularly
or habituaily into the United States by
land or water for the purpose of engag-
ing in any mechanical trade or manual la
Dor for wages or salary, returning from
time to time to a foreign country The
fifth section provides that it shall be I'M
lawful for any person, partnership, COM
pany or corporation knowingly to employ
any alien coming into the United States
in violation Of the next preceding section
of this act
1.-THE prohibition against the employ
ment of aliens upon any public works of
the United states is in line with other
legislation of like character. IL is
quite a different thing, however, 10 de-
clare it q crime for an alien to come
regularly and habitually into the United
States for the purpose OF obtaining work
from private parties. IL such alien re-
turns from time 20 time to a foreign
country, and to constitute any employ
ment of such allen a criminal offrnse.
when we consider these provisions Of
the bill in connection with our long north
ern frontier and the boundaries OF several
OF our States and Territories, often bus
an imaginary line separating them from
the British dominiOns, and recall the
friendly intercourse between the people
who are neighbors on either side, the
provisions OF this bill affecting them must
be regarded as iIlEberal, narrow and un-
American.
..'The residents of these United States
and Territories have separate and especial
interests which in many cases make an
interchange OF labor between their peo-
pie and their alien neighbors most inn
portant, frequently with the advantage
largely in favor OF our citizens. This
suggests the mex pediency OF federal in
reference with these conditions when
not necessary to the correction OF a sub
stantial evil affecting the general welfare
Such unfriendIy Legislation as is pro-
posed could hardly fail to provoke retalia-
tory measures TO the injury OF many OF |
our citizens who now find employment
on adjoining foreign soil.
.'The uncertainty Of construction to |
which the language Of these provisions is |
subject is a serious objection in statute
which describes crime. An important |
element in the offense sought to be ere /
ated by these sections is the coming reg /
uIarly OF hahituaIly into the United States
These words are impossible OF definite and /
certain construction. The same may be
said Oe the equally important words re
turning from time 10 time to foreign coun-
try
"a careful examination OF this bill has
convinced me that for the reasons given
and others not specifically stated. its pro-
visions are unnecessarily harsh and Op-
and that it's defects in construc-
ion would cause vexation. aud its opera
ton would result in BARN 10 our citizens
"GROVER CLEVELAND.
s.E.xecrytFve Mansion March &"