The Portland daily press., 1899-07-26
IHHICRAATS NEEDED.
So Says a German
Steamship Agent
In Testimony Before the Industrial
Commission.
Does Not Think Educa-
tional Test WISE
Padrone Syst EN- Stin Exists
aud Italians Like 1t.

New York, July 25.--The hearing OF
the subcommittee Of the United States
industrial commission which is inquiring
into the working of the immigTaiton laws
&C this.port, was resumed In the Chamber
OF Commecre today. The examination of
Assistant Commissioners OF Immigration
Edward F. McSweeney was resumed.
Chairman Ellison A.Sfpyths questioned
him regarding the existence CT the pa
drone system in this country.
'If by the padrons SYSTEM" said Mr..
MoSweeny, "is meant that Immigrants
are controlled by certain bankers after
they come here: that the commissariat
is regulated by these men; that the
money of the Immigrant Is sent back 70
Italy by these banksrs-if that Is what
we consider the padrone system. 1t still
exists My impression Is that the Italian
immigrants prefer to be under the con-
troll of the padEone."
Mr.. MoSwesney was questioned AZ
length In regard TO Mormon immigration.
He said that pro baby 90 per cent of the
new arrivals were women. "7hey all
come over in cherge Of an Elder, who has
been prosslytizlng in Europe for two or
three years They all claim TO be Latter
Day Saints and declare that they intend
TO obey the laws of ths United States"
Regarding the exclusion of Immigrants
he said that Of the i3 per cent of ths new
arrivals. or %. eco persons. examined by
the special board Of inquiry 10 per oent
were excluded.
What records have yen In regard to
Canadian immigration
There are a grsat many Canadians
who come here every year 70 work and
then return. The problem Is more press.
ing in Boston than here. The port of
Boston rscsives as many Immigrants
from Canada as from Europe 1t he's
been estimated that from so. 900 10 20 COO
come here every year and many OF thsm
find their way south as rar as New Or
leans where they work as lonashoremen -
Mir. MoSweeney gave way 70 Gustaye II.
Scbwab, one OF the agents OF the North
German Lloyd steamship company, who
was sworn. MIR. schwab believed the
laws were intslligently and
carefully executed. BE said that the
companie5 had Issued orders 10
their own agents 60 Investigate all per-
sons applying fer passage and his comrR-
ny held such agents personally RESPONSE
BILE IL the Immigrant was returned. Mr.
Schwab spoke Of the educational test and
said hesthought it unwise 20 keep out
the Drawn and muscle. which Is needed
for the development of the country He
dealared that statistics showed that the
persons who came from the ilIiterate
notably Italy, Austria, Hun
gary. and Russia, were the most law
abiding.
"The present. laws," said.Mr. schwab,
.'are ample to protect the country. If
further improvements nre TO be agreed
upon, l think you will lind all the steam
ship companies ready 10 aoquiesce in any
thing that VIII tend TO promote the vel.
tsrs OF the country. belisve the iInmi-
grants coming here are now absolutely
needed.
To Col. Clarke, Mr.. Schwab said the
proposed consular inspections abroad
would be not only failure, but farce.
He thorght the steamship agents wouli
States inspection agents abroad, but be-
lieyed the expense would be enormous.
MIR. Schwab entered at length into the
medical examination of passengers and
means employed by the steamship COM
panios to detect the presence Of conta-
gious diseases.
Robert Floyd, representing ths Cunard
line said he agreed with everything which
mir. Sohwab had said. The passe ngers
Of his company, he said, wtre drawn
mostly from Great Britain and Ireland
and Scandinavia. He stated that hjs
would not be party to any at
tempt to svade Immigration laws. In
reply TO question as TO the booking of
passengers on the other side, he said
thot an agent who books a passenger
who Is returned, is at once disciplined.
Nr. Floyd believed the present laws ade-
quats.
J. Tsr-Kuile. the agent of the Fabre
line, which plies between this part and
Naples. was the next witness. He said
his company brought In about i. .00Q I'M
migrants last year. nearly all OF WHOM
were Italians. From one.third to two
fifths Of theae hal their fares prepaid in
this country. Witness said that IN form
er yeors the Italians returned in great
numbers, one half Of the arrivals going
bask every year.
At the present time one-fourth returned
80 Italy, hut man. subsequently came
back. he said the quality OF the imiili-
Grants had decidedly improved In recent
Years. -
Mr.. Kuile said to his knowledge the
evils OF the padrone system had been
wiped out. lie admitted that few iSa-
contrary TO law. Italy, like other coun-
tries. dlscoufa led emigration. They
nesded the men for the armies.
Arthur Lederer: passenger manager OF
tine Austrian Red Star Inns. said his
company last year brought e5, 900 passen-
gers In the s.ssrase;; OF theae 40 per cent
grants srfiviag hucsuated from year to
wss s sy Ssfs sV1S sRs fsr@sss
We're then able to hr.nj their families
from Europe. Mr.. Ledefer said his c6Fqs
pans eid not cItrr 10 basiness which
might resnit in having TO return the