Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-07
ADMITTED TO THIS COUNTRY.
Report of Immigration Commissioner
at New York.

at New York.
The annual report of Thomas Fftchie.
commissioner OF immigration at New York,
mas been received at the Treasury Depart
ment. The report shows that the number
OF aliens arrived at the port of New York
during the fiscal year ended June 80. 1901.
was 453. 496 There were also 1906 citi-
zens of the United States who arrived from
abroad.
From comparison of the steerage immi-
grafton for the last two years, 1t is shown
that nearly 10000 of the increase of last
year over the year before was in the i'm
migration from southern Italy alone; but
while this race shows the largest numerical
increase. others present even greater rela-
tive gains.
The Ruthenian immigration has probably
doubled; the Armenian and Syrian, as well
as the Greek show an increase of about
90 per cent, and the Croatian and Dalma-
ton about 30 per cent No other people
not even the northern stars, show gains OF
sufncient magnitude to be considered OF
any significance.
From the high relative proportion of the
female to the male immigrants in the case
OF any given people 1t is safe to assume that
the prevalent intention of those people is to
remain permanently In this country. The
number OF returning alien residents stands
at 1O6 per cent of the total immigration.
In the amount of money brought per
capita there appears to be an appreciable
increase over last year, but the report says
the conclusion unfortunately is unavoid-
able that our immigration is constantly
increasing in illiteracy.
Not only are we drawing more and more
from the countries where illiteracy is high,
but also *he immigrants themselves are
| showing higher percentages of illiteracy.
Nearly one-half of our steerage immigra-
tfcn now presents an illiteracy of from 40
to over 80 per cent"
OF the 3Ss.931 steerage aliens who arrived
during the year the following totals are
given for the principal countries:
Southern Italian-S6, 929 males, "a 1896 fe-
males.
Polish-25. 466 males, u ITO females.
Hebrews-23.343 males, 19. 1914 females.
German-11. 23S males, - 442 females.
Slovak-19.3 300 males, 1922 females
Northern Italian-16.202 males, 4,15S fe-
males.
200 males. 1881 females.
The total number of deportatlons for the
year, a decided decrease as compared with
last year. was 3,059. Following are the
given causes:
Public charges, 1894: contract laborers,
100; insane persons, IL; diseased, 232; con-
victs g; one-year cases. 2S6.
OF the total number of arriving immi-
grants 41,73S were alien residents returning
to this country.
CAS- means of protection against the
coming Of convicts, fugitives from justice
or anarchists" says the report "the pres
ence of our inspectors abroad would be
tors would naturally be dependent upon
local police authorities for any Information
of this character.
If no efforts were made to secure such
information, their certificate as to the nom
existence Of bad antecedents would be
worthless. If they were to assume the
right to exact evidence of an unobjection-
able police record from him, why not" it
is asked, make 1t at once a requisite for
admission to the country, or make the alb
sence of such a record upon arrival prima
facie evidence of criminaIity?'
But even the above procedure would not
offer complete solution of the difficulty.
1t Is perfectly proper to adopt any measures
to prevent the coming of such people, pro-
vided the method is not likely to degenerate
into mere annoyance to legitimate travel.
In our own case need not establish any
new precedent to enable us to accomplish
this object.
THE precedent is already established in
the amendment to the alien contract labor
law which the courts have construed to ap-
ply to all the excluded classes. There is
no reason why the same procedure should
not be extended to cover all cases of unde
sirable aliens. whether of the excluded
classes not and without Limitation OF
time, of course proper legal safeguards be-
ing provided against abuse of this power +"
The increase Of the head tax to 81 and
an extension of the period of jurisdiction
over the immigrant from two to FIVE years
Is recommended.