The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-25
COMMISSION AT WORK.
Investigation Of the immigration Question
by Industrial Subcommittee
PRESENT LAW is NOW BEING EVADfO
nt,rx Undesirable Immigrants Are
Now Finding Their way i"'"
the United states.

New York. July 2i.--The subcommittee
of the Industrial commission met mere TO-
day TO investigate the immigration dues-
ton. only three members were present
sx- Congressman John NJ. Farquenar Oh
Buffalo, Ellison a. Smythe of North caro-
lima and Colonel Albert Clarke OF boston
Senator Boies Penroso of Pennsylvania
and Congressman Livingston of Georgia
were unable to attend
Commissioner OF Immigration Ihomas
Fitohie was the first witness, lie eN-
planned the working OF The immigration
law in detail. He suggested that the law
be changed SO as TO impose me ON any
company landing or attempting TO lahd
any passenger suffering from a contagious
disease. Many such persons. he admlttad
IelAaed the present restrictions M'
Fitchie emphatically expressed tue oplulun
that the operation OF the civil service law
was not beneficial in his department.
he believed IL would be a good thing II
all the offices in the department were
taken out OF the civil service list. III an
swer to a question as TO how good men
would be protected under such condnlon
OF affairs, he said he believed The appoint
ing power would protect them.
Assistant Commissioner Edmund NC
sweenie gave u succinct statement OF I'M
migration matters since 1890. When the
government took the business out OF inc
hands of the State authorities. He be
lieved any allurement offered TO any one
to come here 10 labor should be deemed
sufficient to bar the immigrant. He also
said it would be we'll to include in the list
OF undesrables those birds of passage
who come here and work In the summer
months and go to Europe 10 spend their
savings. returning again in the spring. 1T
the same time he said he doub cd II there
was any class as objecti1 na6e as those
men who came here without dollar IN
their pockets. ready to take any man $
lob at any price Mr.. MCSweenie said ne
believed the laws should be revised.
10 YOU know that the padrone system
sim prevails here2" asked by F'arquehar.
I'VE are morally sure hat il does When
people come here'from Italy supplied with
equal amounts of American gold, we think
there is something more than mere chance
In It,"
Mir, McSweenie recommended that the
head tax be doubled and the steamship
companies be required TO furnish guar
antee that none OF It's passengers shall be-
come charges for two years. instead Of one
as at present He declared that the rep
utable companies would support the en-
actment OF such a law. Mr. McSweenie
spoke of the establishment at the landing
bureau Of an office OF the Italian govern
mept, aud also discussed the work OF the
Austrian governments agents here, who
have an office at the landing station, and
also provide succor for helpless country
men in this country
Regarding the Italian Office he said:
Or Eggto Rossi the representative Of
the Italian government, is a thoroughly
honest and capable gentleman, bur he
lieve that While the Italian government
continues a quasi official supervision over
its Immigrants the inspection Of the
United states government NAV be Offset
to some extent, The establishment ~
such bureau tends to encourage undo-
s'rable immigrants 20 come here because
they will be protected, We believe that
the objects for which the office was
opened have not been achieved The pa
drone system has not been broken; crimi-
nails from Italy have not been stopped
from coming here, and there is no good
reason for its maintenance"
DO you still think there Is assisted i'm
migration to this country" asked Chair
nan Smythe
Yes, think assisted immigration comes
from many countries but that IL collects
m one and comes here generally through
ENGLAND and through Canada"
The commission then adjourned until
tomorrow.