Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-26
The Commissioner General Reports
an Increase of 82,4l6.
ADMISSION OF DISEASED ALIENS
Examination at Port of Embarka-
ton Favored.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION

The annual report of Commissioner Cen
eraI PowderIy of the bureau Of immigra-
ton which has just been submitted TO the
Secretary of the Treasury besides present.
ing the usual Information as to immigrants
who arrived in this country during the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1892 makes
recommendations for legislation which he
hopes will enable the bureau to protect the
citizens of the United States from the
evils of increasing immigration of an in
discriminate character as TO physical con-
dition. mental and moral traits, and indus
trial capability.
Increase in Immigration.
While the total arrivals reported reach
the number of 311.7l5. exceeding those re-
ported for the next preceding year by 81
415. 80 per cent. the opinion is expressed
that at least $4,000 were not listed in the
above number through a defect in the law,
as well as an indeterminate number from
Canada and Mexico. who are not, under
existing regulations. accounted for.
The increase over the figures for last
year is represented largely by immigration
from Europe specifically from Italy. Aus
tria-Hungary, and the Russian empire and
FINLAND. which show gains respectively OF
1886. 22694 and 31.154. or 81 per cent, 81
per cent and 104 per cent.
OF the total arrivals Europe supplied 2T,-
$40 Asia S.gT2. Africa 81, and all other
countries 5.:43. The distribution as to sex
was 1927 males and 1873 females; as
to age A. S3 under fourteen. 24S, 1871 from
fourteen TO fOrty-five and 10. 80 of forty
five years old or over: as to illiteracy. co.
446 who could neither read nor write, and
1G22 who could read but We're unable 10
write: as TO amount of money brought. 3d.
VIf having each $50 OF over and 1t4.613 hav-
ing each less than $40; and the total money
exhibited TO inspection officers aggregated
SJ4f+.4ti2 There were relieved in hospital
POPS and returned TO their own countries
within one year after arrival 263.
Pnupers Denied Admission.
In addition TO 1876 paupers and 800 alien
CONTRACT IabOrers debarred on the Cana
dian and Mexican borders, there were re-
fused admission. one idiot. nineteen insane
persons. 2,599 paupers or persons likely to
become public charges, 348 diseased per
sons. 5 convicts. 50 assisted immigrants and
az contract laborers. making a total OF
3,7gs. Special significance is attached to
the contract laborers in this list, who
cceded these debarred last year by II per
cent, and the diseased aliens whose excess
this year over last is about 80 per cent.
Doubt Is expressed as to whether the
alien contract IabOrers detected at the
ports and excluded represent more than
small part of those coming to the United
States. as 1t is now difficult to obtain the
necessary evidence and legislation Is rec
commended to enable the commissioner gen
eral TO have Investigations made, by off,
the centers Of labor in this country to
which such aliens are destined. Legisla-
ton IS also urged for the purpose of en-
abling the bureau to successfully maintain
suits against the contractors for the
COvcry Of the penalty imposed by the laws
in those instances in which the detection
and deportation of the alien contract Ia
borer alone prevent contamination OF
the Illegal purpose 10 bring him into the
United States.
Examination at Port of Embari<atiOn.
The increase in the number Of diseased
aliens seeking admission has been in spite
Of the exercise by the bureau of the ut
most vigilance in the application of such
means as lie in its power to prevent the
abuse. Most of this class of aliens were
afflicted either with favus, a disease Of
the scalp. or trachOma. which attacks the
eve and frequently results in a loss of Wis
ion. The evil TO be remedied in such cases
is not met by deportation, for the steer
age passengers have been exposed during
the voyage to contact with the afflicted
aliens under conditions most favorable to
the propGga ton Of the disease. which does
not have time to reach such a stage OF
progress as will enable the examining ply
stefan to discover 1t and prevent lis intro
ducrion into this country. by refusing ad-
mission TO the infected immigrants.
The report therefore strongly recommends
the examination of aliens destined to the
United States by physicians Of the marine
hospital service at the ports OF embarka-
ton expressing the belief that such off,
Gals would be more disposed to give the
benefit Of the doubt in cases that are OBJ
scure 20 American citizens than would med
zeal examiners employed by the transport
tation Lines or foreign governments.
Immigration by Races.
A valuable addition has also been made to
the statistical reports heretofore given, by
means Of which it can be determined what
accessions are made to our population from
the various races. thus furnishing informa-
ton Of more practical utility in estimating
the character of immigration than the mere
statement of the countries from which
aliens embarked.
BY way OF illustra ton attention is di-
reCted TO the fact that heretofore arrivals
from the Russian empire and Finland have
never been distinguished as to race, but
have been roughly assumed to be Russians
and Firms. whereas the new system shows
that the arrivals therefrom during the year
under consideration Included less than 10
per cent II Russians and Films. and were
composed Of the following diverse ele-
ments: Hohemians and Moravians, 100:
Eng II. Films. SOS: French |; Ger
mans J.sS3. Greeks l; Jews, 242T5; Ital-
iaus luUrth), l: Lithuanians, 6,S3s; Mag
vars. - Poles 1887; ROumanians. /;
Ruyheuitns. or Russniaks, -; Scandina-
vans l'lZ: Slovaks, ~; Russians, l. so
total Gi5I9. Of which only 1893 were Rus
SLAMS and Films. 1t further appears from
the new tables that the races contributing
migration Tor the year We're the Croatian
and Slovenian. the Finnish and the Iithu-
aU.au. between ten and twenty thousand,
the English the SlOvak and the north
italian: between twenty and thirty thou
sand. the German. the Polish and the Scan.
diUaNian; between thirty and forty thou.
sand. the Irish and the Jewish. and that OF
the southern italian. including Sicnians
supplied % $50.
Northern Ports of Entry.
The recommendation of last year IS re.
peated as 10 the necessity of transferring
the immigration stations at Canadian ports
TO certain designated points on our north
ern boundary. which shall be the only ports
OF entry for aliens coming through the do.
m.n-au- This recommendation is sustained
D. INJURIES showing that the transatlantic
Immigration I" this country through oul
p"rthtr1 neiShbor has increased from 63l.
N iS'I. and I,3t+ in lS.,S. to II 80 during
lNF'- ana other data showing that the care
exercised in administering the laws al
American ports Is merely diverting the tide
OF prohibited immigration through a chan.
ton
The severance Of The