The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-26
IN INDUSTRIAL SLAVERY
Italians Are Still Controlled by
Padrones.
AUSTRIAN GIRLS SOLD
Kept at Nominal Wages Until Harsh
Treatment Drives Them Into
Life of Shame - Most OF the
Mormons Are Women.

New York, July 25.-The hearing o.
the sub committee of the United States
industrial commission, which is in
quiring into the working of the immi
grafton laws at this port, was resumed
to-day.
Assistant Commissioner of Immigra-
ton Edward F. McSweeney was ques.
toned by Chairman Ellison A. Smythe
regarding the existence of the padrone
system in this country.
IF by the padrone system" said Mr..
insolvency, lis meant that immi-
grants are controlled by certain bank
en, and that the money of the immi-
grant is sent back to Italy by these
bankers, it still exists. The system
reputed TO have obtained years ago.
whereby the bankers induced these
men to come here, L do not think any
longer exists, because there is no need
for il. They now come of their own
accord.
Before they come they know that
by going to a certain banker they Will
find employment. My impression Is
that the Italian immigrants prefer to
be under the control of the padrone."
ians and Orientais are held in indus
trial bondage?" asked the chairman
There was a species of labor selling
prevalent in New York for long time,
but l believe it was suppressed under
Commissioners Senner and Fithie.
There We're Austrian girls who were
taken into families and kept there at
nominal wages for years.
Mr. McSweeney said that while the
girls We're not brought here for i'm
moral purposes, many of them became
outcasts owing to their harsh treat
ment.
Mr.. insolvency was questioned at
length in regard to Mormon immigra-
ton. He said probably IS per cent. of
the new arrivals We're women. They all
come over in charge of an elder. They
all claim to be Latter Day Saints and
declare with force that they intend to
obey the laws of the United States.
Regarding the exclusion of immi-
grants he said that of the Is per cent.
of the new arrivals, or $4,000 persons,
examined by the special board of in
quiry, 10 per cent. We're excluded
Mr.. Insolvency. made long state
ment regarding a complaint that immi-
grants We're not properly classified.
He said the great thing was to classify
the immigrants industrially, and that
asking their religion was a means to
That end. Mr.. insolvency said that
probably 65 per cent. of the arrivals
had their passages prepaid by friends
or relatives in this country.
What records have you in regard to
Canadian immigration?"
There are great many Canadians
who come here every year to work and
then return. The problem is more
pressing in Boston than here. The port
or Boston receives as many ,immi-
grants from Canada as from Europe.
1t has been. estimated that from so. 900
to 10000 come here every year and
many of them find their way as far
south as New Orleans. where they
work as 'longshoremen."
Gustav H. Schwab, one of the agents
OF the North German Lloyd Steamship
company, was sworn
Mr. Schwab said he believed the i'm
migration laws were intelligently and
carefully executed. He said that the
companies had issued orders to inves-
tigate all persons applying for passage.
and his company held such agents per-
sonally responsible for immigrants re-
turned
Robert Floyd, representing the Cum
ard line, declared his company would
not be party to any attempt to evade
the immigration law.
Arthur Lederer, passenger manager
or the American Red Star line. said his
company last year brought 25, 600 pas
sengers in the steerage. OF these 40
per cent. We're prepaid