Washington sentinel., 1898-01-08

"If the money qualification be
made a part OF the immigration re-
striction measure now pending in
Congress the results will be start
ling to a great many.
"Had that been feature OF the
law during the last year OF my term
of office as Commissioners Of I'M
migration at the Port of New York
il would have shut out 800 Irish
immigrants out of 10000 who ap
piled for admission. 1t would also
have shut out aS,93s Scandinavia
ans out of 80, 900, and $4,000 Ger
mans out Of $1,000.
"These are private figures which
I compiled from January I, 1899,
to November Of the same year.
They are based on the idea OF SIoo
being the requisite possession OF
each immigrant, that amount OF
money being the sum commonly
advocated"
The above statement was made
by ex Congressman John b.
Weber, of Buffalo, Commissioner
oi immigration at the Port OF New
York during the Harrison Admin
istration. He was chairman OF the
commission which, in 1891, was
sent to Europe to investigate the
immigration problem.
Colonel Weber declares tas his
opinion that some Of the advocates
of radical immigration restriction
are paving the way for veritable
hornets nest about their ears
should the proposed law go into
effect.
The provisions of the bill, he
believes. will fall as heavily on the
Irish immigrant as on any class
which comes to this country, and
he doubts if the large proportion
OF the men who are advocating re-
strictive provisions at this time are
really aware OF that fact. AS Col.
Weber puts it, the Irish, Scandina
vians and Germans represent the
most desirable immigrants which
this country can obtain, and yet,
disfigures "a the months
OF the year ISoa-the last year in
which he had opportunity to pre-
pare careful data--I8, ,86a Iris,. I'M
migrants out OF I9, 600 who crossed
the Atlantic would have been
turned back for failure to possess
the stipulated SIoo.
"Had the educational test been
in effect" said Colonel Weber,
''from FebrI 'rY 1 to November /,
I8oa, we We I'D ave shut out but
z8o Scandinavian. out Of $4,000
who applied for admission. These
aso represe. d those who could
not read and write, about "a per
cent. in all. This is a better show
Ing than is made in any State OF
the Union.
"And yet the money which these
immigrants had averaged only Sa3
per ca rita for the period have
mentioned, Out OF 10000 immi-
grants over twenty years Of age
who came from the Scandinavian
countries, less than 1900 would
have been admitted under the
money qualification of 500.
"Had this policy been adopted
a few years ago, where would have
been our Minnesota, our Dakotas
and portions of other States where
the preponderance OF Scandinav-
ians is not so marked, but where
their numbers are yet important
The present Senator from Mime
sofa, and former Governor. Knute
Nelson, is Norwegian by birth.
who would most likely still be
plodding along in Norway had the
money qualification. been in force
when he landed here. He is a
strong character, who, although
a foreigner, fought under the
nations flag for the preservation
OF the Union and the protection Of
the interests OF all, native and for
cign.
The stopping OF immigration to
the United States would rebound
TO the credit OF Canada. Canada's
present security is her present in
signi6c rec; develop that country
into a power like ours, and one or
the other must GO 10 the wall, for
there is not room on this continent
Mar more than one powerful nation.
Stopping immigration to the