The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-27
CHIEF INSPECTOR
DOBBLER TESTIFIES
Before Subcommittee OF the In
dustriaI Commission.
CHEAP LABOR COMING HERE
DR.. Rossi Says That Italy Does Not En-
courage immigration to the Unit
ed States-Next Meeting at
Washington, September
CHEAP LABOR COMING HERE

New York, July 26.-At todays session of
the subcommittee of the United States
Industrial commission, Roman Cobbler
chief of the board of inspectors OF immi-
grafton al large, testified that his expert
ence was that clerks coming to the United
States in the second cabin with $40 or $50
were the first to become public charges.
The witness prepared a table showing
the comparative arrivals or passengers in
the first and second Gins and the steer
age. On such lines as the North German
Lloyd, Cunard, American, Anchor and
White Star lines, the number of saloon
passengers almost equalled the arrivals in
the steerage. In vessels from Mediter-
ranean ports, however, the steerage passen-
gers greatly exceeded the other classes
Mormons, he said, always come on vessels
of the Anchor line from Glasgow in the
second cabin His figures showed that
while 2,0S3 passengers came from Italian
ports in the steerage, only twenty-five came
as cabin passengers.
Mr.. Dobbler said that many persons came
in the second cabin in order to avoid the
rigid scrutiny at the barge office. He be-
lieved many of the new arrivals had been
NOdCuSo dS W tuSiI dHSWSIS 10 quSStlOuS
put to them here.
William Weihe, of the contract labor bu-
reau, who was formerly president of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers, said that 50 per cent. of all the
cheap labor coming here, Slavs, Poles and
Russian Poles, went to Pennsylvania
where they work on railroads and iron
and glass works, also mines, being given
the preference by employers.
Dr. Egisto Rossi. chief of the Italian bu-
reau at the barge office, said his bureau
was supported by the Italian government
His government did not encourage immi-
grafton to this country. The bureau had
been established here to regulate the Pad
ing a record of Italian immigrants arriv-
ing in this country.
"But you still regard Italian immigrants
in this country as colonists?" asked Chair
man Smythe.
1--WE consider as colonists all Italians
who have not taken out naturalization pa
pers and notified the Italian government
that they have renounced allegiance to
King Humbert."
"Is it true that you isseed a circular let
ter on April p last in which you said that
owing to the war with Spain labor and in
dustry had ceased in this country and ad-
yised your government not to grant pass
ports to intending immigrants?"
mo, the person who gave you such in
formation did not understand"
1--WE have been informed that certain
Italian government officials are interested
in sending contract laborers to this country
and share the profits with the Padrone,"
said Major Farquhar.
81 don't believe it is possible" said DR..
Rossi. "I should like names and data
American foremen, acting for American
contractors have been employing the meth
ods of the padrone since we have been able
to repress the operations of the latter
Commissioner McSweeny was called on
and examined on several minor matters,
and the commission then adjourned to
meet in Washington in September.