The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-12
IMMIGRATION FIGURES
ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMISSIONER
GENERAL Il. v. POwDERLY.
Number of Foreigners Entering the
United States I'm a Year and Their
Northumberland

WASHINGTON. Nov. 11.-Commssioner
General T. V. Powderly, of the Immigration
Bureau, in his annual report to the secre-
tary of the treasury, gives the total number
of immigrants who arrived in the United
States during the last fiscal year as %. 299.
a decrease as compared with the fiscal
year 1897 of 1,53S. OF the whole number 1851
were males and 1884 females. Ten thousand
seven hundred and thirty-seven came into
the United States through Canada. During
the year 5000 were debarred and of this num-
Der there were u insane / idiot, 2,251 paup-
ers, or persons likely to become a public
charge, 25S diseased persons, convicts, 70
assisted immigrants and Az contract labor
ers One hundred and ninety-nine were re-
turned within one year after landing. OF
the whole number over fourteen years OF
age 1,416 could not write. 43,051 could neither
read nor write, 276OS over twenty years Of
age had $50 or over, and 6,20S had less than
$50. The total amount of money shown by
immigrants during the year was $3S52,057
but the actual amount brought over was
probably greatly in excess of this amount.
OF the whole number of arrivals 5S,6l3
came from Italy, q, 225 from Russia proper,
25,12S from Ireland, 17,1n from Germany,
1868 from Hungary 12,420 from Galicia and
Sweden and 9.S7 from England.
OF the total number of steerage passen-
gers arrived during the year "a were actors,
SO artists. 153 clergymen, u editors, 40 en-
gravers, 81 lawyers, 223 musicians. 81 ply
sicians, 136 sculptors, 2SS teachers, A ac-
countants, 1859 bakers, 1882 BARRIERS. 1,l52
blacksmiths, $50 brewers, 1,O74 butchers, 1884
carpenters and joiners, 706 dressmakers, 1858
mariners, 1871 masons, 1904 miners al
painters, 972 seamstresses, 1929 shoemakers,
2.S26 tailors. 1,1S2 weavers, bankers, $50
cooks, 6243 farmers. 1,1SS grocers, 50. 531 lab
orers, 1929 merchants and 1856 servants.
These figures however, the report states,
are not to be relied on as indicating the
pursuit they will follow in this country, for
it is reasonably certain that many of the
new arrivals did not engage in farming, and
it is equally certain that more than l,60i
miners found their way to the coal regions.
The total arrivals of male immigrants dur
ing the present fiscal year are slightly in
excess of those for the year next before it
and it is fair to assume, the report states,
represent a more desirable class, since those
from European countries show an increase
of 2,730, while those from other sources,
principally Asatic, exhibit a decrease of
2.062. 1t appears again that' althouSh mere
has been diminution in the total lmmlgra-
ton, yet in respect of their means of lmme-
diate self-support, the arrivals for the pres
ent year are more desirable, for they eXhlb-
tied to the examining officials $3S52,O1l, an
amount in excess of that shown in the fiscal
year ended June 30. 1897, of $3lOS56.
The commissioner suggests an amendment
to the laws excepting immigrants shown to
be afflicted with loathsome or danger
Gus contagious disease from the right OF ap.
peal or of hearing before the board or
special inquiry. He also recommends that
the head tax be increased from 81 to So so
as to furnish" he says, "a fund sufhcient
no mi
full capacity for usefulness in protecting
American citizens from disease, taxpayers
from the imposition of unjust burdens the
hospitals. charitable and penal institutions
from influx of aliens, native producers
from unjust competition and the social and
political institutions or the country from de-
moraliZatiOn by the corrupt citizens OF 9TH
err countries. 1T is also recommended that
the act which prohibits the expenditure OF
a greater sum for immigration purposes at
any port than shall have been collected at
that port, be repeated.
Mr. Powderly states that the naturaliZa-
ton 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
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
of the vessel, the line it belongs to, the
port it arrives at and the date of landing.
The immigrant should be instructed by
means of a circular to retain the ceruhcate
for presentation when applying for natural
ization papers. A record of the facts stated
in the said circular as to each immigrant,
to be known 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 anu
requiring of the alien presenting himself for
naturalization to produce such a certificate
or a duplicate from the immigrant directory
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 immigration
through that country, and he suggests as
remedy the enactment of & law authorizing
the secretary. of the treasury to designate
certain points along the border separating
us from the Dominion to be the sole ports
of entry to this county of transatlantic
and transpacihc immigrants, and of all ca
nadians who shall rot have resided in Cans
ada for al least five years prior to their
migration to this country 1t would be pos
sibe under such a provision, he says, to
abolish the present official stations on Ca
madam soil and transfer the officials now
so placed to this side of the boundary, lOf
eating them at such points as the secretary
shall designate, where buildings could be
erected for the accommodation of immi"
grants, pending examination, as at the sea@
ports of the United States.
THE CABINET MEETING.