New-York tribune., 1898-01-12
FAIRBANKSON IMMIGRATION
THE INDIANA SENATOR ADVOCATES THE
PENDING BILL.
EVILS OF UNRESTRICTED IMMIGRATION POINTED
oUT-cHANGE IN CHARACTER OF THOSE
COMING FROM EURoPE-THE PEN
sIoNING OF SOLDIERS

oUT-cHANGE IN CHARACTER OF THOSE
COMING FROM EURoPE-THE PEN
sIoNING OF SOLDIERS
DAUGHTERS
Washington. Jan. u.-Aftcr the transaction or
some routine business In the Senate to-day MI
Gauinger chairman OF the Committee on pensions
reported adversely from the committee Dill 10
grant a pension of 500 month each TO Margaret
Butler Meade and Henrietta Meade. daughters oil
the late MaJor-Gencral George Gordon Meade, ami
asked that the bill be indefinitely postponed
Mr. Allen (Neb) asked what reason the commit
tee had for requesting the indefinite postponement
Of the bill.
Mr. Gauinger explained the terms OF the bill, and
said that the committee had taken adverse action
on the bill because 1t did not believe it proper for
the country TO enter on the experiment OF pension
ing the daughters Of soldiers
Mr. Allen said that he had distinct recollection
OF several instances of pensions being granted to
the daughters Of soldiers. and expressed the opin
that this bill ought at least to go 10 the cal
endar for discussion. He thought he could not b.
accused OF too great berality, but in this case n"
soldier General Meade had performed remarkable
service In his (Alen's) opinion was a serious
question whether. if General Meade had not been
at the battle OF Gettysburg, We should have had a
Government to-day.
In reply Mr. Gallinger said that he had not the
slightest objection the consideration or the Di'
but he desired 70 say 10 the Senate and TO the
country that II the Government entered on the
business OF pensioning the daughters OF soldiers
the pension list would be sweled 10 billions. instead
/ OF millions OF dollars
Mr.. Allen thought that might be better than 10
throw the Governments money into millponds and
| unknown creeks throughout the country.
THAT Is a matter" said Mr.. Gallnger. bringing
the colloquy 10 an end with which the COM
mttee on Pensions has nothing TO DO
Mr. Allen introduced and secured the adoption
I'm he
formation in his possession relative to the boundary
line between Venezuela and British Guiana anu
asking him TO inform the Senate wnether t'e
United States has any clerks or other EN-
poyes a. work on the Venezuelan boundary ques
ton and also what part OF the 100000 appropriated
FOR the Venezuelan Commission had been expended
Among the bills passed was one to conhrin GER
tain cash entries OF public lands
Mr. Wolcott (Co.J gave notice that he would on
rext Monday address the Senate the work or
the Monetary Commission
The BIZ restricting immigration was then caNeu
Nd and Mr Fairbanks Qnd) addressed the Senate
in support OF the measure. He said:
No more important question can engage our az,
t.nron and none should receive more ca icSI a'I
hnstoht,,i cons iarafion than one which seeks 10
guard and preserve the high standard OF our pop
erable no mere sentimental considerations; snSSul9 snSSu9
dssuade from dealing win an snner Ty1, COM
patble with the best interests OF the country anu
The bending bill throws an additional safeguard
,bnmI onr nooulation and citizenship by imposing
q rDnderate ana reasonable educational test upon
ali immiSrenIs over sixteen years Of age and phys-
/ cally capable. The immigrant must De ape 10
read and write the Constitution OF the United
exception is made however. In the case OF q pea
son over hfty years OF age. the parent or eidnua %
parent OF a qualified immigrant above twenty,9Vne yVI
years OF and who IS eapaoe of soppJn nino1 nor
child though unable 10 read and write. may IKE nhe1
WI wise &C. Who qualified and capable The closest
and strongest ties OF kinship thus remain u'-
The absorptive power OF our Nation has been been
great, and in the main me aliens ano ne,e sne rhs
rapid admxure Of fereign booqs mere bas oha
! ienged the wonder and admiration OF the civilized
! Prior 10 1875 there no restrictive laws ex-
cept those prohibiting coolie trade In that year
more drastic measures were enacted 70 suppress
| imported for immoral purposes were excluded; SUB
seqEentlv further restrictive acts WeIv PSssa i
ing reduce the Inflow or the inoralIy anu pa!s
! oaily diseased. The presence OF these restrictive
! though the number who presented themselves at
our ports and excluded is comparatively small.
! by A Rnowiedge Of the laws in force.
/ Beginning with the .ast decade cnange oc-
Cured in both the nationality and quality OF our
/ Immigrants Those who were chiefly OF the Sav-
Gne eogs Dgm opf 70 tbem We're VI many very de-
s.rahlc acquisitions; many from the better portions
! eduihrfn Countries we're educated enterprsing and
brave bui the larger percentage were il fitted TO be-
/ privileges and responsibilities Of American citizens
They possessed low order Gf integence & ana ana "a
| conception OF the marvellous significance Of our
/ institutions This fact has awakened the people
| to the necessity OF some protective measure
\ rise in the ratio Of immigration from Eastern
sGven5Sen s"a aSe"S yqar ' and G fail in the rao from
/ Western and Northern countries from $40 70 SsI
/ pause and inquire whether the change is in the
! National interest. The decrease in immIgration
Us but small percentage OF iliterates. and the in
crease is from countries where the ignorance is
]
those above fourteen years OF age coming from
GUS o6 5eit6er rad nor write while only &c
4 per cent OF those from the United Kingdom. France
G rmany ana Scandinavia We're uiterate Wnen
We witness this increase IN the ilterate acvessons
/ to our population we may weI. recall the warning
. OF George William Curtis. Let Us beware how we
study or the last census leads TO the oonclu
larse number to amshouses, penitentaries
exc'udcd Under the provisions Of the pending bill.
There were in the amshouse. in 1880 539i5 paupers
tive whites. The nationality OF 2?4 whites was
undiscosed. the residue were colored II Is thus
white naurer element whose parentage was known
The fuii ssgnidcance Of this is realized when
bear in mind the disparity in the respective num-
bers Of our native ard foreign popuiauon The
exhibit with respect 10 the criminal calendar is
equally npor'aEt There Were oSg Whit &C GRIM
! =. per cent were native But those who were
/ committed g. 81 per cent ~ the crime.
! Tle educational test will have very direct ef-
feet in reducing the number OF contributions TO the
fo~ecoing unfortunate ard Objectionable classes.
/. appears that 20.55 per cent Of the forelgnb
. criminals ard BOIL per cent OF the foreign born
white pauDers were ililterate \ large number o.
t1.sc could not have secured admission to this
| country under the provs o. the pending bill.
TIE sravitation o. undesirable Immigrants Into the
large cities and their rc-cn! orcement Of the sum
districts is one OF the pronounced evils. In Balti
moe = per cent OF the total sum population is OF
foreign birth or parentdge; in Chicago 30 per cent.
~ New-York % per cent. and IN Philadelphia 81
per cent.
patriotic regard for those TO whose interests we
Srgf q
sons who present themselves In this new cornpeti-
ton shall be the most Ignorant pauper Iaoorers
from abroad \ low wage scale is not consistent
Win The most wholesome development OF the
NV AMI ~ It's people The consideration Of