The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-26
UNDER The PlDROM
Many a Poor Dago Slaves IN
New York.
BUT THE SYSTEMS EVILS
Are Not What They Were
The Laws Enforcement

subcommittee of the United States in
dustrial commission which is inquiring
into the working Of the immigration laws
at this port was resumed today. The
examination OF Assistant Commissioner
OF immigration Edward F. McSweeney
was resumed. Chairman Ellison A Smyth
questioned the witness regarding the ex-
istence Of the padrone system in this
country.
'If by the padrone system" said Mr..
McSweeney, sis meant that immigrants
are controlled by certain bankers after
the come here; that the commisarial Is
regulated by these men; that the money
Of the immigrant Is sent back to Italy
by these bankers-if that is what we con-
slider the padrone system. it still exists
The system reputed to have obtained
years ago whereby the bankers induced
these men to come here. 1 do not think
any longer exists, BECAUSE there Is no
need for 1t. They now come Of their own
accord. Before they come, they know
that by going to a certain banker they
will find employment. Ny impression Is
that the Italian immigrants prefer to be
under the control of the padrone"
what other races. besides the Italians
and Orientals are held in industrial bond
age?" asked the chairman.
There was a species of labor-selling
prevalent in New York for a long time,
but 1 believe 1t was suppressed under
Commissioners Senner and FitchIe. There
were Australian girls who were taken
into families and kept there at nominal
wages for years"
Mr.. insolvency said that while the
girls were not brought here for immoral
purposes, many Of them became outcasts
owing to their harsh treatment. He said
that hany such girls were living in New
York, according to the police.
The assistant commissioner said that
during the spanish-American war the
Italian cabinet had issued a circular say
ing that business here was suspended and
instructed the perfects of police to cur
tail as much as possible the granting of
passports to prospective emigrants.
Mr. insolvency was questioned at
length in regard to Mormon immigra-
ton. He said that probably e5 per cent
of the new arrivals were women. They
all come over in charge OF an elder. They
all claim to be Latter Day Saints and de-
clare. with a great. deal of force. that
they intend to obey the laws of the
United States.
Regarding the exclusion of immigrants
he said that of the Is per cent of the new
arrivals. or 5000 persons, examined by
the special board of inquiry, 10 per cent
were excluded.
Mr. insolvency made a long statement
regarding a complaint that Hebrews
were not properly classified. lie said that
the great thing was to classify the immi-
grants industrially and that asking their
religion was a means to that end. Mr..
insolvency said that probably S. per cent
of all the new arrivals had their passages
prepaid by friends or relatives in this
country.
What records have you in regard to
Canadian immigration7"
There are agreat many Canadians who
come here every year to work and then
return. The problem Is more pressing II
Boston than here. The port OF Boston
receives as many immigrants from Can
ada as from Europe. It has estimated
that from $1,000 to 1000 come here every
year, and many of them find their way
as far south as New Orleans, where they
work as longshoremen."
Mr.. McSweeney's examination was sus
pended and ne gave way to Gustave H.
Schwab, one of the agents of the North
German-Lloyd Steamship company. who
was sworn. Mr.. Schwab said he believed
the immigration laws were intelligently
and carefully executed. He said that the
companies had issued orders to investi-
gate all persons applying for passage and
his company held such agents personally
responsible II the immigrant is returned
He believes such rigid investigation Of the
antecedents of such persons was more
reliable than the proposed consular inves-
tigation. Mr.. Schwab spoke of the edu-
cational test and said he thought st I'M
wise TO keep out the Drawn and muscle
which is needed for the development of
the country.
Robert Floyd. representing the Cunard
line. declared his company would not be
a party to any attempt to evade~the i'm
migration law. In reply to the question
as to booking of passengers on the other
side. he said that an agent who books a
passenger who is returned at once is dis
ciplined. Mr.. Floyd believed the present
laws adequate.
]. Ter-Kuile. the agent OF the Faber
line. which plies Between this port and
Naples, was the next witness. He said
his company brought in about 1900 immi-
grants last year. nearly all Of whom
were Italians. From one-third to two
ffths OF these had their fares prepaid in
this country. Mr. Ku.le said that to his
knowledge the evils of the padrone sys-
TEN had been wiped out.
Arthur Lederer, passenger manager OF
the American Red Star line, said his CON-
psny last year brought 900 passengers in
the Storage. OF these 20 per cent were
prepaid.
Mr.. Schwab denied emphatically the
statements made before the sub-comrnit-
g~a 49,