The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-12
DECREASE IN IMMIGRANTS
NOT SO MANY ARRIVED AS DUR.
ING LAST YEAR.
Makes His Annual Report-Makes
Many Suggestions.

asnlngton, Nov. n.-Commissioner
General T. v. Powderly of the immi-
grafton bureau, in his annual report to
the secretary of the treasury, gives the
total number of immigrants who ar
rived In the United States during the
last fiscal year as 229.299. a decrease as
compared with the fiscal year 1897. of
1853. OF the whole number 1857 were
males and 9S,925 females; 10.os7 came
into the United States through Canada.
During the year 5000 were debarred.
and of this number there were ~ in
sane, one idiot. 2.26i paupers or per-
sons likely to become a public charge,
257 diseased persons. two convicts, ~
assisted immigrants and All con-
tract laborers one hundred and
ninety-nine were returned within
one year after their landing.
immigrants and Az contract Iaborers.
One hundred and ninety-nine were re-
turned within one year after landing.
OF the whole number over IA years OF
age, 1.4l6 could not write. 1907 could
neither read nor write; 27.60S over 20
years of age had $50 or over
and 96,203 had less than $50.
The total amount of money shown
was S3,S12.017, but the actual amount
brought over was probably greatly i'm
excess OF this amount. OF the whole
number of arrivals, 5S,613 came from
Italy, 2I,22l from Russia proper. 25,12s
from Ireland. 17.1l1 from Germany,
1863 from Hungary, I2,420 from Ga
licia and Burkowina. in Austria Hun
gary, l.. .S9S from Sweden and 99S1 from
England.
The commissioner suggests an amend
ment to the laws excepting immigrants
shown TO be afflicted with a loathsome
or dangerous contagious disease from
the right of appeal or of a hearing be-
fore the board of special inquiry He
also recommends that the head tax he
increased from 81 to 81. $50 as to fur
nish," he says, "a fund sufficient to en-
large the bureaus operations 60 their
full capacity for usefulness in protect
ing American citizens from disease,
taxpayers from the imposition of un-
just burdens. the hospitals charitable
and penal institutions from an influx
OF aliens. native producers from unjust
competition and the social and politi-
cal institutions of the country from
Generalization by the corrupt citizens
of other countries"
IL Is also recommended that the act
which prohibits the expenditure of a
greater sum for immigration purposes
than shall be collected at the port be
repealed.
Mr.. Powderly states that the natural
ization laws of the United States have
been repeatedly violated. and. in his
opinion. each arriving immigrant, when
admitted to the United States, should
be provided with a landing certificate
setting forth the name. age, sex, BIRTH
place OF the immigrant. government to
which allegiance is due, the port from
which the vessel sailed. the name of the
vessel. the line IL belongs to, the port
II arrives at and the date of landing
The immigrant should be instructed by
means OF a circular to retain the certi-
ficate for presentation when applying
for naturalization papers.
record Of the facts stated in the
said circular as to eacn immigrant. 10
be known as an immigrant directory,
should be kept for each fiscal year by
the bureau OF immigration. An act of
congress. authorizing such a course of
procedure and requiring of the alien
presenting himself for naturalization to
produce such a certificate or a dupli-
cate from the immigrant bureau. would
facilitate the work of the courts and go
far towards preventing the issuance OF
fraudulent naturalization papers.
The commissioner general expresses
the belief that the figures given of the
arrival of immigrants through Canada
represent only a part OF the actual i'm
migration through that country and
suggests as a remedy the enactment OF
law authorizing the secretary of the
treasury to designate certain points
along the border separating the United
States from the dominion TO be the sole
ports OF entry to this country of trans
Atlantic and trans-Pacifc immigrants
and OF all Canadians who shall not have
resided In Canada for at least five years
prior 10 the immigration TO this coun-
try. II would be possible. under such
a provision. he says. to abolish the pres
ent official stations on Canadian soil
and the American officials so placed on
this side of the boundary. locating them
at such points as the secretary shall
designate. where buildings could be
erected for the accommodation of i'm
migrants pending examination. as at
the seapOrts OF the United States.