Evening star., 1900-09-27
Increased Immigration to This Coun-
try Reported. |
DECREASE FROM NORTHERN EUROPE
Coming From Italy and the Balkan
States.
EXCLUDING GCoNTRACTLABoR


nual report Of the work done at the New
York station for the fiscal year ended June
3O That year marks the close of the first
ten years of federal control Of immigration.
The total number of aliens arriving at the
port of New York for this year was 400, S42
In addition to these there were 80, 76O
American citizens who came within the
scope of the inspection process by reason
of the fact that they shipped in a manner
to secure tickets at immigration rates and
to save the usual expenses Nearly one
fourth of this number shipped as steerage
passengers.
Mr.. Fitchie submits some tables showing
the illiteracy of the races of people that
arrived. The Portuguese and Italians rank
about in the same order in illiteracy. The
figures show that the greater the illiteracy
the smaller the amount of money per capita
brought in. In every instance the race or
people having less illiteracy bring more
money. The English, French and German
people brought close to the same amount of
money per capita this year. For instance,
a south Italian would reach this country
with an average of less than 50 in his
pocket, while an Englishman, Frenchman
or German would have about $50.
Inn 4 ration From Southern Europe.
Commissioner Fitchie says that the stead
lily increasing tendency Of immigration
from south European and oriental countries
has become more marked than ever during
the past year. He says: notwithstanding
the fact that the immigration for this year
shows an increase OF nearly 100000 over
that of the previous year, our Old source of
immigration, namely, the Scandinavian
countries. the German empire and the
united kingdom, altogethers contributed but
9,I22 immigrants toward this increase, while
Great Britain itself actually sent us
smaller number of immigrants, than ever
before. The immigration from these coun-
tries is. therefore, rapidly reaching a point
where 1t may be considered as q negligible
quantity. immigration frem Aust ria Hun
gary has increased from 63, 600 to 10000
since the last annual report, and although
Russia shows considerable numerical and
relative increase, still this immigration con-
tains no new elements II is made up of
about the same proportion of Hebrews,
Poles, Germans and Firms as usual No
other elements in Russias complex popu-
lation eVtnce any inclination to come here,
and 1t Is highly improbable that they ever
Will There are, hewever, abundant indi-
cations that for new developments in i'm
migration we should not only look to these
elements In AuStria-Hungary' population
now we'll represented. but also realize that
this movement Is steadily extending to the
southeast and is going to show increasing
numbers from the Balkan states, Greece
and Turkey.
From sOutheastern Europe.
THE immigration Of the Croatians and
slovenes, which. started but few years
ago, is now more than double that Of the
English. Roumania sends us practically
as many as Norway, and, while the immi-
grafton from Roumania itself is confined
entirely to. the Hebrew population Rou-
manians from within the borders of Hun
gary have started here in sufficient num-
bers to suggest an extension of the move
ment among all people of their language
Ihe SerVians and the Bulgarians also form
the nucleus for colonies in several of our
large cities. From just such small begin
ning few years ago the Greeks and Sy
rlans have come to have important colonies
In nearly every city in this country.
Range of Illfteracy.
Speaking of illiteracy and money per
capita, Mr.. Fitchie says that the variation
is great. He says: ut may be noted that
while the southern Italian has an illiteracy
OF 461a per cent, and brings $S.79 per capita,
the northern Italian has an illiteracy of IL
per cent and brings S22. The latter, how
males, has even less desire to remain here
than the southern compatriot" He points
out that the Bohemians have a very small
percentage Of illiterate,, but the other races
from the same empire show an illiteracy
of from 10 to 46 per cent. The Hebrew
from Russia and Galicia show an illiteracy
of at least 10 per cent less than their Sla-
vontc neighbors.
Classified by Races.
Mr.. Fitchie says that the occupation sta
tistics given by him are only valuable so
far they show the calling which the i'm
migrant pursues prior to leaving his
tive country. This does not imply a de-
sire or ability to follow the same pursuit
in this country. An immigrants race.
however, is a fairly good criterion of the
field Of industry which he will enter in
this country. Races having common
interests certain
pations.
OF the total immigration, 22S,4 Ala were
males and 113 ,29Sg were females. By races
and people the immigration was as follows:
Armenian and Syrian, 5000; Bohemian
1929: croatians and Dalmatians. 9,521;
Dutch and Flemish. 1.5l6; English, Scotch
Finnish, FIN s7ss. against % s,s4o last year;
French, 1856: Germans, 1881; Greek, 8, 734;
Hebrews. 44,520; Irish. 23,200: Northern
Italy. 16,690; Southern italy. SGD, against
1883; Polish. 36s35. against 23.015 last
year; Portuguese. 3,779; Ruthenians, 2,655;
scandinavians. %, SAT; Slavacs, ,2o,392; Span
ish. 800: all others, s97. :.
Only the English, Scoteh' and Welsh, the
French and the Armenian Syrian show
decrease from the previous. year.
The report states that 1856 alien immi-
grants who became public charges Wl1nln
year after their arrival in The United states
were deported. The eSmnissloner suggests
legislation to compel the steamship compa-
nies to accept as passengers to Europe per-
sons who have become insane within one
year after their arrival from causes that
have arisen subsequent to their landing.
Necessity for. a standard.
Mr.. Fitchie contends that q standard of
eligibility for 4he admission of immigrants
can and ought to be established and main
tanned,
Regarding the contract labor law Mr..
Fitchie says: 1T is my earnest convic-
ton that since the passage of the law
large proportion of the aliens deported as
coming in violation of the alien contract
labor law Were of the very best class of
aliens coming here. / further believe thaS
their deportationS were of no benefit to
the American workingmen, and, In fact.
were worked to his disadvantages, because
he was luled into a belief of security, when,
in fact, his principal danger was the alien
coming here without cent or any means of
livelihood, who was compelled to take what
was offered him or starve, and was his
principal opponent ard most dangerous
enemy In the labor marketx Contract labor
Is one of the two principal 4auses of exclu-
sion from landing. the othdr being that OF
persons likely to become public charges
from lack Of resources or from physical de-
fects or mere rhental oFs physical infe-
riortty."
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