The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-02-04
the IMMIGRATION BILL.

The new alien restriction bill from the
conference committee has passed the
house after sharp contest by major
ity of thirteen. The first section OF the
new measure excludes persons over six-
teen years of age who can not read and
write the English language or the lam
guage of their native or resident coun'
try, but person not so able to read and
write, who is over fifty years of age, and
is the parent or grandparent of quail
fed immigrant over twenty.one years OF
age, capable OF supporting such parent
or grandparent, may accompany such
immigrant, or such q person or grand
parent may be sent for and come to join
the family of child or grandchild, over
twenty.one years of age, similarly quail
fed and capable.
The aim is to give the immigrant fair
opportunity to prove his or her fitness
as to education and also prevent collu-
sion with the officials. Uniform paste
board slips are to be provided each
with 20 to 25 words of the U, s. constitu-
ton printed in double small plea type.
The immigrant is required to draw one
of the slips, read the contents and after
wards write the words in view OF the
officials. The sentences are to be print
ed in various languages. The immigrant
failing in the examination, is to be re-
tnrned at the expense of the transporta-
ton company and record kept of the
number of the slip on which he failed.
No exception is made by which the
illiterate wife of qualified immigrant
can accom- mpany her husband unless she
is over fifty years Of age or is the parent
or grandparent of a qualified immigrant
of legal age. This feature was the main
reason given for ne opposition to the
conference bill which got through by the
narrow majority of thirteen. The first
three sections contain the illiteracy pro.
visions and the remaining six concern
The employment of aliens. No male
alien, who has not in good faith made
his declaration before proper court Of
his intention to become citizen, shall
be employed on any public works of the
United States or shall be allowed to
come regularly or habitually into the
United States by land or water for the
purpose of engaging in any mechanical
trade or manual labor for wages or salary,
returning from tine to time to foreign
country, and no person, partnership,
company or corporation knowingly shall
employ any alien coming into the
United States in violation of the proceed
ing provision.
Exception is made in the case Of sail.
ors, deck hands and other employees OF
vessels as we'll as railroad train hands
The penalty for violation of these pro.
visions OF the act is a fine not exceeding
$500 or imprisonment not exceeding one
year or both in the discretion of the
court, the convicted aliens to be de-
ported to the country whence they came.
The secretary of the treasury may per-
NIT aliens to enter the country for the
purpose of teaching new arts or indus
tries under such rules and regulations as
he may provide. The act shall not
apply to "persons arriving in the
United States from any port or place in
Cuba during the continuance of the
present disorders there who have here
tofore been inhabitants of that island" I"
Aliens getting into the country by
evading the law are not secure. They
may be taken into custody by the pro.
per officers and be dealt with as provided
by law, for alien immigrants upon their
first arrival. The law goes into effect
on the first day of July next.