The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-12
IMMIGRATION STATISTICS
COMMISSIONER GENERAL POWDER
LIZ MAKES HIS ANNUAL REPORT.
Danger Of Contagious Diseases
Head Tax should Be Sx-strtcte<
Laws Needed for Naturaliaatton.


WASHfEGTOS. NOV. i1.-c0nS1.ssforeF
General r. =. Pow5sriy. Of the srnEnigra hon
bureau, fn his annual report 20 tae s@cre-
tary OF the treasury. gives me total nafEloer
OF Immigrants who arrived II TIE ITi1ted
States during the last fiscal year "a -. 1ss.
a decrease as compared VITA tae fiscal year
1sg7 or f.sss. OT the whole nsnf1er. l8.71s
were males and 80. ~ females. lefS3 came
into the United states through Canada.
During the year g,0fs we're deAsgreG. and %
This number there we're y insane ] idiot,
2,2Es pa9pers or persons likely 70 become
public chargs - diseased persons. con-
yIcts, "a assisted Immigrants and AZ con-
trac. lahorers Ore hundred and ninety-
nire were returned within one year after
landing Of the Whole nunItser over a years
of age 14IG could not write. a. lS7 could
neither read nor write, e .sas oyer % years
CO age had so or OYER ard s. 165 had Jess
than 80. TIE total amount of money
shown by immigrants during the year Was
tss7s.G7 bat TIE actual amount brought
over was probably greatly in excess az this
amount. Or the total number Of arrivals.
is5i3 came from TtaIy. Z7.2zf from Russia
proper =. l2s from ireland I7lll from Ger
many. 1879 from Hungary. Il 425 from Ca
icfa and BuTkowIna ~ Austria II lngagy
i2.'sss from Sweden and . 81 from England.
The commissioner suggests an amend
ment to the laws excrHtlng immigrants
shown 10 be afflicted with a ioathsome or
dangerous contagious disease from the
right OF appeal or u hearing before the
board % special inquiry. He also recon-
msnds t1at The head tax - increased from
81 70 %. $50 as 20 furnish he Gays, "a fund
sufficient 70 enlarge the bureaus ouera-
fions 20 their fui. capacity for usefulness
3n protecting American citizens from dis
ease taxpayer from the imposition IF IN
Just burdens. the hospitals cbarIta Die and
penal institutions from an Influx Of aiiens
native producers from unjust competition
and the social ard political institutions
or the country from Generalization by the
corrupt citizens of other countries" II Is
also recommended tba, the act which pro-
hlbsts the expenditure Of a greater sum for
Immigration purposes than shall he coll
Iectef al the port be repealed
Mr.. PoHderly states thai the naturaIiza-
ton laws OF the United States have been
repeatedly violated and in his opinion each
arriving immigrant when admitted 10 the
United States. should Re provided with a
landing certificate setting forth the name
age. sex. birthplace Of the Immigrant gov
eminent TO which allegiance IS due the port
from which the vessel sailed. the name oe
The vessel. the line It belongs 10. the port il
arrives al and the date OF landing The i'm
migrant should be Instructed by means Of
circular 10 retain the certificate FOR pre-
fentailon which applying fer nat,ira !ization
papers. \ record Of the facts stated in the
circular as 10 each immigrant 10 ms known
"a an immigrant directory. should be kent
for each fiscal year by the sureau OF i'm
migration. An act OF congress authorizing
such course Of procedure. and requiring
al the alien presenting himself for natura-
aiizatiHn 10 produce such a certificate or a
duplicate from the immigrant directory
would facilitate the work of the courts AMI
30 FAR toward preventing the Issuance of
fraudulent naturalization papers
The commissioner general expresses the
beHet thif the figures given of the ar
rival or immigrants through Canada
represent only part OF the actual inn
migration through that country and sug-
Eests "a a remedy the enactment of A law
authorizing the secretary - the treasury 10
designate certain points along the border
separating the United States from hi. ro-
minon Ia re the sole ports of entry 10 this
country Of Transatlantic and trausDaeifi,
Immigrants and Of all Canadians who shall
ros have resided In Canada for at least five
years prior ~ the Immigration 10 this conn
Try. II wouid 10 possible under suei, a
provision. he says. ~ abolish the present
OFFICIAL stations on Canadian saii and 10
transfer the officials 50 placed to this side
or the boundary. locating them n such
points az the secretary shall designate
where buildings could he erected for the
accommodation Of immigrants pending ex-
animation, as AZ the seaports OF the United
States