Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-12
PRESENT LAW AMPLE
DR.. Senner Opposes Further Be-
striction of immigration.
BEFORE TIE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION
Gives Result Of His Experience as
Commissioner.
VALUE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

! The subject of immigration was before
| the industrial commission today, and one
| of the best authorities that question in
| the United States was examined. The wit
ness was DR.. J. H. Senner, for four years
| commissioner of immigration at the port of
| New York
| Members of the commission present We're
Vice Chairman Phillips, Senator Mallory.
| 4. l.. Harris of Ohio. J. M. Farquhar, E.
| D. Conger, ]. L. Kennedy and Albert
| Clarke.
DR.. Senner said it not possible to
regulate immigration by law. Immigrants
might be Objectionable in one place and de-
sirable in another. The agitation against
| immigration had had the effect of bringing
more immigrants to this country from some
nations than ever before. One steamship
company had been formed with the pur-
pose of bringing all the immigrants posi-
BILE to this country before restriction laws
should be enforced. In southern Italy the
people hurried to get to this country before
a law should be enacted to bar them out.
He opposed the Lodge immigration bill,
and said the sentiment among men of Ger
man descent in this country was very gen.
orally opposed to it, although almost every
German immigrant could pass its require
ments. That bill did not restrict skilled
laborers, the yery ones the labor organlza-
| lions desire to prevent coming here. I'M
migrants wee wanted by many people In
order to obtain efficient servants, hard to
get here.
He impressed upon the commission the
necessity for immigrant inspectors who
could speak the language OF the people
coming here.
Speaking of the Italians who come here,
he said they were frugal and Industrious,
and, while many of them go home, they
eventually. a rule, return here and bring
their families with them. Immigrants from
Italy are Americanized fast enough. and
| take the place of the Chinese in building
railroads, which work will not be done by
Americans immigrants from English
speaking countries.
The Poles, he said. prosperous in this
country and no people are more anxious to
secure a little home. They pay their taxes
promptly, and more promptly than any
other class, not excepting Americans. When
schools for giving instruction in the prin-
ciples of American institutions were
tablished the Poles were found to be bet
| ter informed than any other class attend
ing such schools, not excepting the Amer
leans.
Inning ration and Wages.
! He claimed that immigration does not re-
| duce wages, and that the highest wages
have prevailed when immigration was the
| largest.
Dr. senner attacked the character of i'm
migration statistics, and said they were
worthless because of the erroneous state
| ments given by the immigrants themselves
He referred to the charge that had been
| made that he was interested in the Baron
Hirsch fund and said he had never had
anything to do with it.
Finally, he said there was rather more
restriction of immigration than is good for
| the country. The country could more easily
asSimilate 100000 or 900 persons with it's
population of 1u0o0000 than it did some
years ago assimilate 100000 or 100000 i'm
migrants when the population amounted to
only 4o,0O0,UW. Not only was this the case
because q h1It
because of conditions in this country which
mas now better opportunities of education
than ever For one reason or another
Americans, whether native foreign-born,
are not inclined to do mental service and
such service supplied by the immi-
grants.
statistics Much Better Than Formerly
Speaking of the tendency of immigrants
| to conceal facts about themselves, he said
he had known of cases of immigrants
whose statements and appearance showed
them to be paupers. who. when threatened
with deportation, produced thousands of
dollars. In one case man who was to be
sent back to Russia as a pauper produced
S4O.WO, to the surprise of every one
Dr. Senners charge of inaccuracy in the
immigration statistics referred to the period
before 1893, since which time, he said they
mad been vastly improved in accuracy Be
fore that he knew that those whose reports
We're the basis for these charges were
maui up idISeiS ny SueSSWOFk, even IN the
determination of numbers of immigrants
He hesitated to suggest any legislation
on the subject of 1mmigra ton, as he feared
any change in the law would open the
whole subject. An important thing in deal
ing with the immigration question was in
The distribution of these people after they
get here, their segregation and their use
in politics.
DR. Senner spoke of the hardships to i'm
migrants on account of the long delay in
thelr landing as result of the methods of
inspection. The government pays not more
than $1,000 a year to interpreters for work
there, and that was not enough to secure
| efficient men, There should be- he said
more extensive facilities Ellis Island, so
that the immigrants could more quickly be
disposed of.
Cause of Migration.
He did not think immigration would in
terfere with the labor market here during
times OF depression. as at such times mmi-
| grafton decreases. The sentiment that in
| spires immigrants. he said, was a desire to
secure better field for their energies 1t
was not the result, as rule. of their desire
! to get under the republican form of gov
| ernment His personal experience had
| showed him that the desire to be American
| lied was practically universal among all
young immigrants. In the second genera
| ton 1t was impossible to keep them apart
| from the body Of Americans by any effort
| on the part of older immigrants.
| Present Laws Enough
| DR.. Senner said he did not desire any cos
! mopolitan population in this country but
| he did want the door open so all people
| could come here and be Americans He
| believed the immigration laws of this coun-
try sufficient to prevent expense by
| this country on account of taking care of
| pauper immigrants and that in general
| way the laws sufficient to keep out
| criminals.
! The witness declared that the public
| schools the greatest instrument for
| Americanizing foreigners. and asserted that
| compulsory educational laws are desirable
| in all places where these foreigners settle
| The lack of compulsory education in Penn
| sylvania, he said. is responsible for the
| so-called Huns in the mining districts of
| that state being segregated and un-Ameri-
| can In many ways. although they have
| been here twenty years.
! Dr. Senner said he Is now secretary of
| the Protective Immigration League. the