The Portland daily press., 1899-07-27
Rore Facts Concerning immigration
Given.
Italian Government Off
cials Are Interested
In the Sending Of Contract
Laborers to This Country.

New York, July 6.--The third days ses-
sion of the hearing of the subcommittee
of the United States Industrial commits
sion which is probing the sabject of i'm
migation. was held at the Chamber OF
Commerce today. The subcommittee
will conclude Its iaDors today.
Roman Dobbler, chief OF the board of
Inspectors OF immigration at the barge
cffice, testified that 1t was his duty to
board all Incoming vessels and examine
all passengers to determine their eligibili-
ty to land. His experience was that
those coming here in the second cabin
with si5 and $50 vera the first to become
public charges.
MIR. Dobbler said many persons came ip
the second cabin In order to avoid the
rigid scrutiny at the barge otflce. He
believed many contract laborers got In
In this way. Witness said he believed
many OF the new arrivals had been
coached as to their answers to questions
put to them here.
DR.. Lorenzo Ullo, legal afviser of the
immigration bureau, said there was great
difficulty In enforcing the laws owing to
the many contradictions found in the
statutes relative TO immigration. A case
In point was the law regarding criminals
coming to this country which tho law re-
uuires shall be returned to the nation to
which they belong and the port from
which they come. Some times the crimi-
nal was an Oriental and hailed from Bre-
men. He thought the law should say
suoh persons simply not be permitted
TO land and the steamship companies left
10 do with them as they believed best.
DIR. Ulio said the administration of the
immigration laws had been greatly inn
proved. Under the state board matters
were In chaotic condition. The greatest
complaint Of the steamship companies
was In eases where Immigrants had been
ordered ueported and had taken an ap-
peal 20 the secretary Of the treasury. In
such cases. the immigrants were main.
tanned at the barge office at the ooinpa-
ny's expenss- DR.. Ullo, however, had
heard that several companies had protest.
ed themselves against such a contingency
by requiring guarantee against such
loss from the immigrant before accepting
him as O passenger.
Witness said that In none OF the iInmi-
grafton laws were there an express pro-
vision for the deprivation of contract
iabors. The law of 1891 did SO by iinpii-
cation and 1t was under this act that the
department was working.
~ he terms aliens and salien immi-
garnts,' said Dr. Ullo, found In the
laws, have besn o source Of confusion.
United States judges in this circuit
especially Jcdgs Lacombe, have decided
immigrants and not aliens. 1hose birds
of PASSAGE who find 1t profitable TO
spend their winters abroad, the judges
have decided are only Immigrants when
they first arrive. Many persons only
oiaim TO have como to nee the country, a
brother or sister and these have been ad-
judged aliens and entitled TO admission.
The witness said he would amend the
law regarding contract iaborers to include
any agreement TO come here to work, not
rigidly a contract.
'If 1t Is advisable" he said, TO restrict
contract laborers from coming here, the
law must be amended. The law as 1t
stands does not restrict.''
Dr. Ullo said the spirit OF the immigra-
tion laws was to suppress the importation
OF cheap labor which Is brought into COM
petition with American workmen.
Mrs Virginia Stuokler. the chief ma.
tron at the barge cfiioe, testified regard
10 delicate condition. OF i44 women
arriving during this month in that con-
dition, SO were married at the barge
office. 2S were admitted on appsal, and
the Others werefcund to be married wom-
en-.
Mrs. Stuskler said that there was an
average OF one marriage day at the
rived who had been unfalthful to their
husbands, but except In three cases they
were permitted to land.
Mrs Stuckler thought the laws should
include an act prohibiting the landing
OF girls brought here for immoral pur-
f.a -. L..