The Portland daily press., 1899-07-25
Paupers Assisted to
Come From England.
Commissioner Titchie Explains
Workings of Law in Detail.

tec VI bue luuustrlhA CofniulsslOu met mere
today to investigate the immigration
question. Only three members were
present. ex-Congressman John Nj.
Farquhar. of Buffalo; Ellison A. Smythe,
of North Carol ma. and Col. Albert Clark
Of Boston. Senator Bots Penross OF
Pennsylvania and Congressman L. b. Liv-
ingston of Georgia were unable to attend.
Commissioners Of Immigration Thomas
Fitchie was the first witness. He ex.
planned the working of the Immigration
law In detail. He spoke of the great care
taken In this examinatio n of the new ar
rivalsas regards moral, physical and
financial condition. Notwithstanding
this the commissioner stated that many
persons were undoubtedly received who
were suffering from dangerous contagious
diseases. aforementioned the case of wo-
man who arrived here in the Storage of
French lins steamship and who was
suffering from dangerous contagious
disease. She was deported. but arrived
here again on the next trip of tn vessel
in the. second cabin and was again sent
back
ltCnA6 6ukRbebc4 tuhG I0S law Dc
changed so as to impose fine on any
company landing or attempting to and
any passenger suffering from contag-
| ious disense. He believed that If q specific
| tine was imposed for each violPtion of the
law, the steamship cor panies would be
more careful, Nine per cent of one shin
| load OF immigrants he said, were found
| undesirable and ordered deported. Mr..
Bitchie declared that 65 casek of traohoma
.l..sa. nN.I II.
many cases OF favus, another dangerous
] contagious diseass. He pleaded for a
| more rigid medical examination at the
| PORT of emhR kation.
| Mr.. hitchie was asked whether he
found the operation Of the civil service
law beneficial in his department..
"Emphatioally no, he said. "Our de-
hpartment is peculiar one and 1 do not
believe any examination discloses the
qualities needed In many of our en-
ploys es. honesty, determination and ex-
/ perienoe are a thousand times more SER
yiceabie than civil service examine
] tion.'
| The commissioner said he believed 1t
would be a good thing If all the officers in
his department were taken out of the civil
service. 10 question as to how good
men were to be protected under such a
condition Of affairs, Mr.. Fitchie said
he believed the appointing power would
protect them.
The commissioner confessed that he had
known of cases whore valuable men were
removed TO make room for mere party
workers. But be said that while Gle ricai
positions should remain under civil SER
vice rules he could not SEQ that any ex-
animation could produce as good immi-
grafton inspectors as tho commission
co uld select
Assistant Commissioners Edward +.
Insolvency. said II had been estimated
that as a result OF the law of 1888, 81, 000
PERSONS who applied for tickets TO this
country were refused transportation by
the agents OF the steamship companies.
j MIR. Insolvency. recited the difficulties
In enforcing the law regarding the exolu-
sion OF undesirable immigrants. He said
that any allurement offered to any one
to comezhere to labor, should be deemed
sufficient tn bar the Immigrant. He said
also 1t would be we'll to include In the
list of undesiratlns tn ose birds OF sspas.
cage" who ~ceme her and work in the
summer months and go TO Europe to
spend their savings in the winter, return
ing again in the spring. Mr. MoSweeney
said he doubted II there was any class as
objecticnal as tho5e men who came here
| without dollar in their pockets, &eAdy
to take any mans job at any price. Mr..
| McSweeney believed the laws should be
| revised. He thought that the whole
| family should be deported when one
| member of 1t was found suffering fl ON
some loathsome disease.
"Do you know that the padrune system
| still prevails here?" asked Mr. Farquhar
I'VE are morally sure that Ii does.
When people come hers from Italy, sup
piled with equal amounts of American
gold we think there Is something mo re
than mere chance in the coincidence.
The assistant commissioner said that lie
would recommend that the head tax bs
doubled and that tine steamship COM
panies be required to furnish guarantees
that none of their passengers shall be-
cone public charges for two years in
stead of one as at present. He declared
that the reputable companies would sup-
port the enactment OF such a law. Mr..
McSweeney spoke of the establishments at
the landing bureau of AN Office Of the
Italian government. He said:
II believe that while the Italian gov
eminent continues its quasi official super
vision over its immigrants the inspection
of the United States government must
be offset to some extent. The establish
ment of such bureau tends to encourage
undesirable immigrants to come here be,
cause they feel they Will be protected. We
believe that the objects for which the
office was opened have not been achieved
The padrone system has n0t-been broken
criminals from Italy have not been
stopped from coming here ana there is no
good reason for It's maintenanoe.
"Do you still think there is assist I'd
immigration to this country" asked
Chairman Smythe.
eyes, / think assisted immigration
comes from many countries but thai it
collects in one. and comes here generally
through England via Canada. Charit-
able socisties in England are continually
moving paupers on. They are landed In
Liverpool sent to Quebec ami finally
landed in New York"
MIR. MoSweeney said that there were
| few immigrant girls led astray now by
| the pirates who formerly hung about the
entrance to the landing station. A
number OF the pirates had been sent to
the stato prison and the girls were now
hedged nbput With many aafa-punrdn