The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-03

tlmuIt. violence anu uiSOrder DO not
originate with illiterate laborers.
They arc the victims OF the educated
agitator. The ability toread and write.
as required I'm this bill, I'm and of itself.
affords. in my opinion, misleading test
OF contented industry and supplies un
satisfactory evidence OF desirable citi-
zenship or proper apprehension OF tho
benefits OF our institutions. IL any par
ticular element OF our illiterate immigra-
ton Is to be feared for other causes than
illiteracy, these causes should be dealt
with directly. instead of making litter
acy the pretext for exclusion. to the det-
riment of other illiterate immigrants.
against whom the real cause OF com
paint cannot he alleged. The provisions
intended to rid that part of the proposed
legislation already referred TO from
obvious hardship appear to me to be in
definite and inadequate.
a parent, grandparent, wife or minor
child of n qualified immigrant though
unable to read and write, may accom-
pany the immigrant Or be sent for to
join his family. provided the immigrant
is capable of supporting such relatives.
These exceptions TO the general rule
OF exclusion contained In the bill were
made To prevent the separtion OF fami-
lies: and yet neither brothers nor sisters
are provided for.
In order that relatives who are provid-
cd for may be reunited, those still in
foreign lands must be sent for To join
the Immigrant here. What formality
Ia necessary to constitute this prere-
uuisite. and how are the facts of re-
lationship and that the relative Is sent
for to he established? Are the illiterate
relatives of immigrants who have come
here under prior laws entitled to the
advantage of these exceptions? "A nus
band who can read and write and who
determines to abandon his illterate
wife abroad will find here, under this
laM, an absolutely safe retreat. The IL
llterate relatives mentioned must not
only be sent for, but such immigrant
llust be capable OF supporting them
when they arrive. This requirement
proceeds upon the assumption that the
foreign relatives coming here, in every
case, by reason OF poverty, are liable &C.
become a public charge unless the i'm
migrant Is capable of theft support Tho
contrary Is very often true. And yet
IS unable 10 read and write, though quite
able and willing To support themselves
and their relatives here besides, they
could not be admitted, under the provi.
sions of this bill, IL the immigrant was
Impoverished, that the aid of his fortu-
nate. but illiterate, relative might be
the means of saving him from pauper-
ism. The fourth section of this bill pro-
yides that ii shall be unlaWfuI for any
male alien who has not. I'm good faith,
made his declaration before the proper
court of his intention to become a citizen
of the United states to be employed OH
any public work of the Urged States oil
20 come regularly or habitually into the
United States by land or water for the
purpose of engaging I'm any mechanical
trade or manual labor for wages OF
salary. returning from time to time to
q foreign country"
The fifth section provides that II shall
be unlawful for any person. partnership
company or corporation knowingly To
employ any alien coming into the United
States in violation of the next preced'
ing section of this act"
The prohibition against the employ
ment of aliens upon any public works
of the United States Is I'm line with other
legislation of a like character. 1t IL
cutie q different thing. however to de.
clare il crime for an alien to come reg
ularly and habitually into the United
States for the purpose OF obtaining worn
from private parties II such alien returns
from time to time to foreign country
and 70 constitute any employment OF
such alien a criminal offense.
When we consider these provisions o!
the bill. i'm connection with our long
northern frontier and the boundaries OF
several OF our states and territories, Of
ten but 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 affectina
them must be regarded as illiberal. mar
,'~w and un-Amerlcan.
The res Hantb or these states ana F'
ritories have separ.fa and especial ln.
terests, which, in many cases, make an
interchange Of labor between their peo .
pie and their alien neighbors most i'm
portant. frequently with the advantage
largely I'm favor OF our citizens. This
suggest the ineXpediency of federal in
reference with these conditions when
not necessary to the correction OF a sub
stantial evil affecting the general well
ldits SUN I'SiSibtioii ~
proposed could hardly fail to provoke
retailiatory measures, TO the injury OF
many of our citizens who now find EN-
ployment on adjoining foreign soil.
The uncertainty of construction to
which the language Of these provisions
is subject, is a serious objection i'm a
statute which describes a crime. An
important element i'm the offense sought
10 be created by these sections is the
coming regularly or habitually into the
United states"
These words are impossible of definite |
and certain construction. The same |
may be said Of the equally important |
words, returning from time to time &c |
a foreign country"
A careful examination Of this bill has |
convinced me that for the reasons given |
and others not specifically stated. it's |
provisions are unnecessarily harsh and |
oppressive and that It's defects in con.
struction would cause vexation and its |