The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-10
Taxation of Aliens.

The so-called "alien tax law went into
effect in Pennsylvania on July l. It's chief
requirement is that every employer of an
unnaturalized male foreigner upward of
twenty-one years of age must report the num-
bero of aliens he employs and be accountable
forthe tax, which is three cents per day each.
This tax is paid to the County Treasurer.
Failure so to report aliens is made u mis-
~demeanor, punishable by a fine of not less
than 5000 or more than 81 900.
The enactment of the new law is justified
on the ground that the unnaturalizcd aliens
contribute more than their just share to the
police expenses in several districts of the
State. AS the PHILADELPHIA Times puts
the case, "the law is intended to make
some small measure of restitution to the
people of the county where such popula-
lions exist for the enormously increased
expenses imposed upon them to maintain
their courts, prisons, and a~lmshouses."
The tax is designed also to establish Il dis
crimination between citizen and alien me-
chanics for the benefit of the former, and to
impose n penalty upon employers for util-
izing the labor which the Harrisburg
Legislature regarded as the cheapest avail.
able. Theoretically the purpose of the
Alien Tax law is to preclude employers, by
u prescribed penalty, from getting the aid
of such aliens, to establish a bar to their
immigration into Pennsylvania, and to add
to the demand for native born and natural.
ized labor.
The new law has been in operation for
about one week only, but already some of
the practical effects of it begin to ap.
naar an TINT tbav can bo ,,rt.o...l
with the mere theories of the legislators.
BY the Federal census of 1890 the number
of foreign-born male residents of Pennsyl.
vania Appropriated 4OO 1000. or these
y more thar 100000 had either become natu-
rallied citizens or had declared their inten-
ton of becoming citizens. The number of
unnaturaliZed male aliens upward of twen-
ty-onc years was about 100000, and of
these, about go, 900 were returned as speak
Ing and understanding only languages other
thun English. To reach the last, more par.
ticularly, to relieve tne native laborers
from their competition, and to prevent
Pennsylvania employers from securing
the cheapest available labor, this bill was
passed. During the week it has been in
operation these unnaturalized foreign born
who are eligible to citizenship, and who
before had neglected to take out their
naturalization papers, have been bestirring
themselves to escape payment of the three.
cent tax by becoming naturalized. During
the past week the courts in Pennsylvania
having the power of naturalization nave
been crowded with illitcrate and uucouth
applicants for the boon of American cit.
izcnship. In one branch of the court in
Philadelphia as many as l72 new citizens
were made" in one day last week.
Some of the applicants had been RESIDENT in
the State for ten or fifteen years without hav,
Ing had before the wish to acquire citizen.
ship. Some answered with difficulty the
queries p%ropounded by the Judges. In lie,
high county, for instance, = Hungarian ap.
plicant, on being questioned by the Judge
~ TO his qualifications for citizenship and