The times., 1898-01-23
IMMIGRATION RESOLUTION.
Lodge Bill as Passed Loses Much ~
Its Oric, inaI RigUr.

Its ORIG iEaI RigOr-
It is clear that the final passage OF
the pending immigration restriction
bill commonly known as the "educa-
tional test will by no means settle the
immigration question. 1t is likely 10
be but Introductory 10 a larger dis
cussion. The earnest advocates OF re
striction Will not be satisfied with this
measure when it gets into operation,
! because it has been so Whitfield down
as to have little excluding force. When
this is fully realized. and the evils of
a too great influx of immigrants be
come glaring again, the demand VIII
undoubtedly arise for some more posi-
tive measure. and this sentiment is sure
TO be met by very determined cpposI-
ton.
Throughout most of the Southern
States to-day efforts are being made %
encourage European immigration rath-
er than discourage it. and this perhaps
accounts for the fact that nearly all
the Southern Senators have steadily
voted against the Lodge-McCaH bill.
In Maryland. for instance. a commits
sion was created by the assembly OF
1895 for the purpose of inducing i'm
migration to the State. The SUperin-
tendent is allowed 4 salary OF $1,000 q
year. and the commissioners were en-
powered to appoint a secretary al a
salary of 81. 200 who should know the
English, German, and French Ian
guages. According to the terms Of the
act, the superintendent must visit Eu-
rope once every year to solicit immi-
grafton to Maryland, remaining abroad
at least four months on each trip and
visiting different countries in the pros
ecutiOn of his duties. The board is
empowered to make contracts with
railroads and steamship lines for the
distribution of immigrants on arrival
at Baltimore. and to provide for their
reception in that city. Ii is obvious
that the general assembly which passed
this act either was very desiTOus Of
creating a few more places for Office
seekers. or else felt that Maryland
could be improved by an increase of
population. To be sure. the Maryland
superintendent does not on his annual
trips solicit the class Of immigrants
whom the educational test bill aims to
exclude. and so the two things are
net at present in conflict. But such ef-
forts as these of Maryland, repeated in
different forms in many other States.
would come into conflict with almost
any other measure of restriction which
might henceforth be undertaken.
for if genuine restriction is desired.
seems evident from the published state
ment that during the last year the Hit
crates who arrived here numbered only
a. $50, of whom 1.JI4 could read but not
write, and so would be eligible to ad-
mission under the SpOoner amendment.
The remainder would be further de-
creased by the provision of the pend
ing bill, excepting ilhterate wives.
grants previously admitted. The eX-
Guiding force of the measure is likely
to be further diminished by the ability
of intending immigrants TO prepare
themselves for the examination by
taking a special course in the art OF
reading in their own language It is
obvious that the Ellis Island require
ments will not be severely applied: one
bright young man in family might be
selected to acquire "boOk-learning Tor
the household. and when once he passed
muster. his parents. grandparents, etc,
could come along on later ship.
. The relation of immigration TestriC-
tion to treaty rights is another inter
estine question. No doubt our treaty
of 1882 with Russia. for example. grants
to the people of the two countries the
reciprocal right OF living in either. and.
though the courts are not likely to
overrule an explicit act of Congress be-
cause of it's conflict with the provisions
of treaty. the United States are under
moral obligations To serve notice or
foreign countries that they desire SO
much of these treaties annulled. and
perhaps in this way to prepare for re-
ciprocal restrictions Of immigration.
OF the prompt passage of the pending:
bill in the House there is no doubt. and
the President has long been pronounced
in it's support