The evening times., 1899-10-26

laws, lnlS evil DeinS one Oh iHcFsasliS hie-
quency, and the means Of detecting and
Furnishing frauds perpetrated with this OBJ
ject in view proving from experience to be
inadequate.
The Immigration Laws.
To obviate the embarrassments which
may be anticipated i'm considering the right
of residents of the territory recently ac-
quired beyond America s coasts to land at
ports of the United States. unless some
provision is made for. the examination OF
aliens admitted to such territory, efforts
were made to extend the application of the
immigration laws and regulations to Ha-
waii and to the islands OF Cuba. Porto
Rico. and the Philippines. A bill was pre-
pared to accomplish this object as to Ha-
wall and presented simultaneously in both
Houses of Congress but failed of enact
ment.
| Unofficial information has been received
| that since the annexation of the SAID terri
tory, July 8, 1898, $4,000 Japanese coolies
| have been imported to work its sugar
! plantations. and its local government Is
now securing Portuguese laborers Tor the
| same purpose and trying to effect an ar
rangement to secure from the Italian Gov
| ernment number of its subjects. With
| TeShTU 10 the lSfduuS HOW 'utiu
| occupation, as a result Of the war with
| Spain, the opinion is expressed that the
prompt extension of the immigration laws
| to them, by order of the Secretary of War,
Will avoid many embarrassments which
would otherwise arise in this connection.
In addition to those alreary referred TO,
a number OF important amendments are
urged, among them one to extend the au-
| thority Of the Secretary of the Treasury
4 IN ha md fati Of aliens in
this country in violation of any law. as
well as to such as have landed in disregard
OF the provisions of the alien contract Ia
Dor laws: to extend from one to five years
the time within which aliens who have be-
come public charges or inmates OF penal
| or reformatory in rtitutions may be deport-
ed, upon condition that those seeking re-
lief from the burden during the four addi-
ticnal years defray the expenses OF the de-
ported alien TO the port of departure, the
| bureau defraying the cost Of steamship
| transportation: to allow the preparation of
manifests CT cabin passengers on the yoy-
age and their csrtihcation on arrival at an
American port before an immigrant inspec-
| tor; to prevent defeat of the purposes of
the, laws. through the claim of passengers
TO be visitors merely, and not immigrants.
by express enactment extending the laws
to all aliens, including seamen on foreign
vessels after discharge at port OF the
United States.
Fer the purpose CT providing a sufficient
fund to defray the increased outlay re-
sultant from the enlarged duties CT the bu-
reau. it is recommended again that the
head tax be made not less than 81
The total cost for enforcing the alien
contract labor laws was $S7. .725.0S, and oi
the immigration laws. 1898 0G2.26. A bal
snce of SilS. .326 43 remains on hand sub
ject to deduction of $290. $50 appropriated
TO pay the cost of constructing the new i'm
migrant station On Ellis Island, n Y,
leaving S12T 4I6.43, and frcm this sum and
possible future accumulations there is also
appropriated By act of Congress further
sum Of $500, 900 for the same purpose, pay
able in four equal installments al inter-
vals of one year, beginning July 80 1900
These appropriations are disbursed through
the Supervising Architect OF the Treasury
who has exclusive control of the construc-
tion of the Ellis Island buildings. and tbs
Commissioner General urges, beth upon
humanitarian grounds and as essential tc
the administration of the law. the impor-
tance Of their speedy completion and the
transfer to them from the cramped and
unsuitable quarters at the barge Office oi
the officials of the New York Immigrant
station.