The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-07

Thomas F'itChie Commissioner Of I'M
migration for the Port Of New York, to-
day submitted his annual report for the
fiscal year ended June 80. 1901. to the
Treasury Department The report is q
very exhaustive one. including chapters on
statistical tables financial report. depOr-
taugnS, deportations under the one-year
clause, primary inspection, board Of spe-
cial enquiry. contract labor law. criminals
anarchists. etc: medical division. bonds
boarding division. increase in the head
tax. missionary and charitable societies,
transportation matters. immigration and
Industrial conditions. obstacles to assimi-
lation, buildings and grounds, and general
rules.
Regarding criminals. fugitives from jus
tice. anarchists. etc. Mr.. Fitchie says
As in the case of contract laborers. it is
obviously difficult TO secure evidence that
viii lead to the exclusion of aliens belong
ing TO this class often I'm cases unques-
tionably Of this character. We are com
PEELED 20 rely on our ability to exclude
them on the theory of their being likely
to become a public charge II is undoubt-
edly true that many Of this class succeed
en- passing our inspection. and there have
been large accessious of these elements to
several of our foreign colonies i'm this
country Banded together by ties Of Ian
EuaEe. association and common instincts
Of preservation, they are able to make
such a showing as viii enable them to
pass the immigration inspection processes
Attention is again called to the fact
that the immigration law gives no au-
thoTiJy TO exclude embezzlers or other UNI
convicted fugitives from justice-what-
ever their oftenCe-Of anarchists. except
so Tar as we may succeed in covering
their cases on the ground of their being
likely to become a public charge
From time TO time proposal is made to
establish some form of examination
abroad. in connection with our consul
ates. to prevent the embarkation Of per
sons who might be found Objectionable
TO this country. and to obviate the individ-
ual hardships incidental TO the return Of
Passengers after reaching this side.
so far as 1 am aware. the system ex-
pected TO accomplish this object has
never been brought out Of the nebuIous
stage The proposition sounds so pIaus-
tbie, and is so well calculated to meet
public approval. that I consider it proper
10 allude TO it in this report for the rea-
son that. in my opinion. any such plan
Will pro e in practice to be nothing more
than an annoyance to legitimate travel
At times during the past ten years
especially selected officers of the Marine
Hospital Service have been detailed
abroad 10 somewhat similar duty. Their
conclusions regarding the ACCESSIBILITY Of
taking prospective passenger would
generally rest on the cIeareSt kind of
eVidence-that presented by q physical
examination, or, occasionally perhaps. on
q consideration of the locality of his resi-
dence in the immediate past.
The financial iufarects ,F +b. 49,.
ship company concerned are dependent on
the heed given to this medical officers ad-
vice. But some very disagreeable com
plcations have arisen out Of these as
slgnmslts, and il is safe TO say that these
on1cers Of this Government have never
been able 20 attain results that would
warrant their continuance in any foreign
port except in instances when they have
received the unqualified cooperation and
support Of the steamship companies and
the Government in whose territory they
have attempted TO exercise authority.
Yet the proposition 10 send officers OF
TINS bureau abroad 10 enquire into the an
ttcettntS OF the subjects Of the country
10 which they are assigned. and 10 decide
upon Jhelr deslrabIlty individually as i'm
migrants. would Dee inauerrafaJ r1nTar
less favorable auspices and would involve
lar more difficult and delicate task
As q rule, no steamship company to-
ia l--e-EAtS a DlatlIGt OF taking NJ
gers Nnp are believed % be- unable TO
pass the examination process at the port
hhrT" thtF are going to arrive The fact
lhaI "A passenger Is allowed to enter and
remain in the country cannot De taken
Otherwise than an indication that Ha has
been found satisfactory and that his
transportation Is legitimate commercial
enterprise From purely financial reasons
the companies have now perfected sys-
TENS for assuring themselves Of the prob
ape eIsibAltE OF prospective passenger
Chances may be taken in doubtful cases.
lntAElbleS may also get aboard through
oversight OF by false representa- ions
presenting evidence Of eligibility that fails
TO be subsJautIated upon aTTivaI-just as
would happen in case representative of
this bureau were sent abroad 20 relieve
the companies Of the necessity Of making
their own decisions Without them the
companies are now able 10 gauge the out
come Of the examination az this port. so
that last year an average of only one pas
sengeT In 10 is returned ana in the case
Of certain lines this proportion falls 10
one in about 500
1T seems highly improbable that any
force which this bureau might send
abroad could approximate this result or
that such inspectors could maintain a
higher standard Of eligibility than we are
able TO uphold here in our own territory.
As means Of protection against the
coming Of cOuvlCts, fug.tIves from justice
or anarchists the presence of our iusUeC-
tors abroad would be either futile or un-
necessary These inspectors would natE-
rally be dependent upon local police au-
thOritles for any Information OF the above
character. II no efforts were made 10
secure such Information. their cert feat G.
as 70 the nOu-eNisteuCa Of bad auteoe-
dents in the case Of a prospective irnrui-
grant would be- WORTHLESS. II they were
10 assume the right % exact evidence of
an mob jectioUaiIe police record from
him. why not make 10 at once a reguf site.
for admission TO the country. or ma. Ea
the absence u such record upon arrival
priua facie evidence of crimiuaIlty and
let the vessel that allowed him 10 en-
bark assume the risk.
Although such measure may seem
radical IL would really impose no hard
ships upon legitimate travellers from con-
tiuental Europe
The proportion Of Immigrants who &C.
tuafy possess criminal records m home
OF are fugitiyes from Justice is COMPARE
tivciy small Those who have auarchi1tic
or criminal proClEitlsS constitute. OF
couFse a larger proportion. Many of the
former class. and an Of the latter. VIII
be able 20 eyate any form Uf inspection
otherwise qualified. Their uudrSira biIity
can only De demonstrated by their careers
after landing iu this country To D. per
fectly proper 90 adopt any measures 70
prevent the coming Of such people. Dr0-
yided the method IS not likely 10 dcgeu-
crate. INTO mere annoyance 20 legitimate
travel But however well SUCH AN in
specuon service be- organized and con-
Quoted, u must, TO accomplish 70 any
great extent the object desired be- SUD
hen1lng and dcDOrtiUE those who will
gain admission TO the country from lack
or evidence AT the time Of examination
TO show that they are not entitled TO land.
Countries. by virtue Of their sOyer-
eighty. have an the inherent power TO rid
their territory Of undesirable FOREIGNERS
In OIIr own case we need not establish
any new precedent 10 enable MS 10 gC-