The times., 1901-06-23
REGULATIONS NOT ENFORCED.
Charges Made of Violations of the
Contract Labor Law.

A large number of protests have been
received at the Treasury Department, and
by various Senators and Representatives..
from the labor organizations of the coun-
try, complaining that the Contract Labor
law has been permitted to become dead
letter by the officials of the immigration
Bureau. The protests charge that the
country is flooded with contract laborers
brought in during the present year with
the knowledge OF these officials, and in
open violation of the law. 1t is claimed
that some 500 cases have been passed by
the inspectors, and not single person has
been deported, and that all efforts TO en-
force the law have been finally abandoned.
The Contract Labor law IS the direct
result of much agitation. expense, and
hard work on the part Of the labor organ
izations, and they have been very jealous
of any seeming violations Of what they
have had enacted
When some recent cases were brought
to the attention of the organizations they
demanded that action be taken and the
replies received compelled them to make
an investigation which has resulted, they
claim, as stated above 1t is said that
the matter will now be taken by the Ia
Dor organizations into Congress, where
they intend to put up a bitter fight dur
ing the coming session. The labor organ
iZations will, it is reported, demand that
the Law be enforced to the letter and that
the present rules be set aside and new reg
ulations made which will not nullify the
law. Supplemental legislation will be en-
acted, it is assured, which will strengthen
the law.
1t is admitted that the Government is
now spending $4,000 per year in perfume
tory administration of the law and that
no results are being attained. Agents are
stationed at the various ports, it is claim
ed, to look out for contract laborers and
headquarters are maintained at q great
expense. Unless evidence is at hand
which shows conclusively that the new
conner is a contract Iaborer, it is said
he is permitted to enter.
Formerly the officials were permitted TO
question the immigrant as to his where
abouts and his past. 1t was also the Gus
tenn to place the newcomer under oath
and have him swear that he had not made
a contract previous to leaving the other
side of the water For some reason. it is
asserted, both of these rules have been
set aside by Mr.. Powderly, and during the
past year the laborer has neither been
questioned nor sworn. Unless the inspec-
tor has evidence that the newcomer is
violating the law, and this is said to be
almost impossible to obtain without ques-
tioning the man. he is admitted.
In further violation of the law, it is
claimed that of late number of skilled
workmen who made contracts on the 9TH
er side have been permitted to land, de-
spite the fact that the contract was made
known to the inspectors. According to the
charges made by the labor organizations,
the steel and coal mine owners are ship
ping foreign labor into the United States
in gangs, having hired the men on the
other side. The word has passed along
it is said, that the bars are down." and
the fact that immigration was heavier
last month than during any month for
years is thought to uphold this argument
At the Treasury Department today it
was claimed that III. A. Taylor. an As
sistant Secretary, had ordered the rules
for detecting contract labOrerS diSContin-
ued Mr. Taylor declined to discuss the
bject. The officials of the immigration
Bureau positively declined to talk about
the matter, but il was learned that there
has been trouble between the Treasury
Department officials and the officials of
the immigration Bureau along the line
referred to.
1t is alleged that the Treasury officials
have refused to cooperate with the I'M
migration Bureau people and have been
est being by n withdrawal OF the powers
of the inspectors in contract labor cases.
Recent reports received from the inspec
TORS at the various ports will be incorpor-
atpd into the next annual report OF the
Commissioner General of Immigration.