Evening star., 1898-11-11
Falling Off in immigration in the
Last Fiscal Year.
INCREASE In TIE NUMBER RETURNED
Medical Examination of Those
Coming Favored.
ARRIVING VIA ADA

strong recommendations. one being that
every immigrant be given a thorough medi-
| cal examination and refused admission un-
less physically sound.
Speaking of the immigration for the past
fiscal year Commissioner Powderly says:
"A table shows the arrivals by ports of
the United States and Canada for the fis-
cal years 1897 and 1898, from which it will
be seen that there was a falling off in the
total immigration of the present fiscal
year as compared with that of the next
preceding year of approximately 1,500, or
from 1872 to 229, ,299. This decrease, if
comparison is made of the figures given
in another table with the same numbers
shown in last years report, is composed
exclusively of females, chiefly of those be-
tween the ages of fifteen and forty. and
from European countries. The total ar
rivals of male immigrants during the pres
ent fiscal year slightly in excess of
those for the year next before It, and, it
is fair to assume, represent a more desir-
able class, since those from European
countries show an increase of 2,130 while
those from other sources. principally
Asiatic, exhibit decrease of 2,o62.
Continuing the comparison it appears
again that, although there has been a
diminution in the total immigration yet
in respect of their means of immediate self
support the arrivals for the present year
are more desirable. for they exhibited to
the examining officials S.. So. or. an amount
I in excess of that shown in the fiscal year
ended June 20. 1897, of S31O, ,S36.
unfortunately, the deductions from
amounts of money reported not con-
elusive, for the figures given represent only
SO much as is shown by persons over twenty
years of age. There is popular impress
sion abroad that in order to gain admis-
sion to this country one must possess at
least $50 In many instances immigrants
come to the United States with several
hundred dollars, but when questioned by
the immigration officials will admit that
they possess bat $40
The act of March 3, 1899, requires that
II an Immigrant is possessed of $50 or less
ne must state the amount, but If the sum
Is over $50 he need not state what 1t is
Under this law there is no means of ascer-
tanning how much money immigrants bring
with them to the United States and in or
der to obtain exact information the law
should be amended so as to require the i'm
migrant to state the exact amount he is
possessed Of If this is done 1t will he
known Just how much is added to the
wealth of the United States by arriving
immigrants.
Destination of Immigrants.
There is at present no way of certainly
determining where the great bulk of i'm
migrants go to after passing inspection at
the ports. While they are manifested to
certain points, they may in reality intend
going to other places. Under existing laws
and conditions they can not be directed
to any designated locality or state with
any degree of certainty that they will find
employment on arriving at their destina-
uon. There are bureaus of labor and sta
uStlcS in thfrty-tWo states where manu-
featuring, mining and commercial life is
most active. The enactment of a statute
designating each head of a state bureau
of labor statistics an agent of the federal
government, for the purpose of collecting,
information which would show where trade
was brisk and where it languished; where
certain classes of labor were in demand
and where the labor market was over
stocked. and at stated Intervals forward
ing this Information to the bureau of i'm
migration, would be of great benefit to ar
irving immigrants
increase the Head Tax
while no immigrant should be Judged
by the amount of money he possesses he
should be required to Fay head tax much
greater than is now collected, not less than
=. From the fund thus collected it would
be possible to defray the expenses of a
competent corps of physicians to examine
immgra1 1ts and to establish agencies of
tie immigration bureau at foreign ports
from which Immigrants take passage.
Each arriving immigrant, when admit
TED to the UEited States. should be provd-
the name, age, sex, birthplace of the i'm
migrant, government to which allegiance
Is que. the pert from which the vessel sail
ed, tie name of the vessel the line it ne
longs to, the pert 1t arrives at and the date
OF landing. TIE immigrant should pe in
structed by means of a circular to retain
the certihcatc for presentation when ap-
plying for naturalization papers,
ut will be that the total arrivals at
Canadian ports of European and Asiatfc
immigrants destined to the United States
aggregated IL, 1877. or ninety-one in excess of
those arriving for the year ended June 70
1877, which, in turn, exceeded the arrivals
during the year next preceding by I125
This calculation includes the immigration
from the orient by way of Victoria and
Vancouver, British Columbia. the varfa-
tions of which are controlled by different
circumstances from those affecting trans
Atlantic immigration.
There is reason to believe moreover
that these figures only represent in part
the actual increase of transatlantic immi-
grafton to this country through the terri
tory of our northern neighbor for manv
doubtless, who have reason to feel 1ncer.
tain as to their ability to pass the exam1-
nation by an established staff of inter-
prefers, inspectors and other officials at
the landing port, are listed on the steam
snip manffests simply to Canada with the
ostensible purpose of settling there, but ac-
tualiy cherishing the design of crossing to
the United States at some point where the
lack of facilities for strict inspection will
diminish the chances of their rejection.
"One of the most serious obstacles to an
efficient administration of the immigration
laws is the long northern boundary line be-
tween this country and Canada.
The only remedy that suggests itself is
the enactment of suitable legisIa ation by
Congress authorizing the Secretary of the
treasury to designate certain points along
the border separating from the domin-
ion to be the sole ports of entry to this
country of transatlantic and transpa-
cific immigrants, and of all Canadians who
shall not have resided in Canada for at
least five years prior to their migration to
this country. 1t would be possible under
such provision to abolish the present
official stations on Canadian soil and trans
fer the officials now placed to this side
of the boundary, locating them at such
points as the Secretary shall designate as
above stated, where buildings could be
erected for TIE accommodation of immi-
grants pending examination, as at the sea-
ports of the United States''
Late Naval Orders.
Passed Assistant Engineer F. NJ. Bennett
has been ordered to the bureau of steam