Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-10-27
BIG INCREASE IN IMMIGRATION DUR
ING PAST YEAR.
NEARLY ALL FROM EUROPE
RUSSIA SHOWS THE GREATEST IN
CREASE FOR LAST YEAR.
More Than Half of All the Arrivals
Had Less Thun $50 Ench-Near-
Iy Fourth Could Neither
Read Nor Write-Pow-
derly's Report.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 26.-In his annual
report TO the secretary of the treasury
Commissioner General Powderly, of the
immigration bureau, gives the total ar
rivals for the year ended June 30 1899. as
Sl1. tl5, an increase over the next preceding
year of S2.+I6. or &c per cent The opinion
is expressed that at least 25,ODo persons
were not listed i'll this number, through
defect in the law, as we'll as an inieter-
inmate number from Canada and Mexico,
who are not, under existing regulations,
accounted for.
The increase over the figures for last
year is represented largely by immigration
from Europe. specifically from Italy. Aus
! tro-Hungary and Russia, which show
gains respectively of 1856. 1884 and 3D.
154
OF the total arrivals, Europe supplied
2s'.Si9; Asia, S,9I2. Africa, 5I all other
countries. 5.3i3
The distribution as to sex was l95 22223
males and ll6, iSS females.
AS TO age, 1888 We're under II; 24S, lS1
! from II to 10. and 1855 of 10 years or
| older.
As to iIliteracy. ,i46 could neither read
nor write and l,022 could read but were un-
able TO write
As TO amount of money brought. 39,O1
had each $50 or over. and l14.6l3 had each
less than $50. The total amount of money
exhibited 10 officers was $54l4462
There were returned to their own coun-
| tries within one year after arrival 2,632
In addition to 1876 paupers and 3o3 alien
contract laborers debarred on the Canadian
and Mexican borders, there were refused
| admission one idiot, nineteen insane per
| sons. 2,5@ pauperS or persons likely to be-
! come public charges, SIS diseased persons.
| eight convicts, eighty-two assisted immi-
grants and al contract laborers. making a
total of 3I3S. The number of contract
laborcrs debarred last year exceeded the
number for the next preceding year by II
| per cent. Legislation is recommended to
enable the commissioner general TO have
Investigations made at the centers of labor
! in this country to which contract laborers
are destined.
The recommendation of last year is, re-
! neated as to the necessity for transferring
| the migration stations al Canadian
| ports to certain designated points on our
northern boundary. which shall he the only
ports of entry for aliens coming through
| the dominion.
This recommendation is sustained by fig
ures showing that the immigration through
| Canada has largely increased and that the
! care exercised by the officials at the
American ports is merely divcrting the
| tide of Immigration through channel of
| ferinS little obstruction. With regard to
! the Islands now held under military au-
I thority as an outcome of the war With
| Spain, the opinion is expressed that the
/ prompt extension of the immigration laws
! to them. by order of the secretary OF war
will avoid many embarrassnents. 1t is also
| recommended that the authority of the
I secretary of the treasury be extended to
/ the arrest and deportation of aliens in this
! country in violation OF any law. as well
/ as to such as have landed in disregard of
! the provisions of the alien contract labor
| laws; Ia extend from one to five wears
| the time within which aliens vino have
I become public charges of institutions may
! be dcported. upon condition that those
! seeking relief from the burden during the
1 four addition al years dcfray the EXPENSE
| Of the deported alien to the port of de-
! parture, the bureau defraying the cost Of
| steamship transportation.
1t is also recommended that, 10 prevent
| n defeat of the purposes of the law, through
| the claim of passengers to be visitors
merely. and not immigrants. that the laws
| be extended to all aliens, including sea-
J men on foreign vessels after discharge at
! port of the United States.
. The cost OF enforcing the alien contract
| labor laws during the year was SS1,725, and
| of the immigration laws, $2SScc2.