Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-06-29
DEAD LETTER
Is the Alien Contract Labor La. Pau
per Labor Can Now Come Inds.crtmi-

nAtttt
Washington. June 25.- The alien
contract law is dead letter through
failure OF the Treasury Department
officers to enforce il rigidly and as
\ consequence, immigration has
grown steadily heavier until las.
month it broke the record for sever
al years. Word has gone ont that
the bars are down and employers OF
foreign labor are making the best OF
the opportunity.
OF course. there is still perfume
tory enforcement Of the law Agents,
at total cost OF about $3.50, 600 are
stationed az different ports TO look
out for contract laborers, but they
accomplished practically nothing
Under recent rulings of the Trea
surv Department, these agents are
crippled IN their work. not being nj
lowed TO put immigrants through
what is known ms the sweating
process, nor even to demand from
nilil hlUuANtt thtt uS upSe u3t UNIV
ander contract to work,
At last and with the utmost and
most hearty cooperation ON the part
Of all the officials. 1t is extremely diff
ficult to prove that laborers come in
violation of law. Under the most
favorable circumstances ii is almost
impossible to prove contract was
made unless written one Is found
but when the contract was only
implied the difficulties OF the immi
grafton authorities are multiplied.
When an implied contract is made the
newcomer is coached in such a
thorough manner that the experts can
seldom shake the testimony OF those
who are asking entrance in violation
of law.
Even when these officials are con-
vinced that AN implied contract has
been made the suspect is frequently
PERMITTED to land if he'd up, MS the
| Treasury officials override the immi-
grafton officers unless il can be
proven that contract exists. This
makes the work of the agents SO diff
cult that when they have almost con-
elusive proof of violations of the law
that they are forced to set the suspect
| free.
The result is that for a long time
not single immigrant has been de-
ported for violation of the law al
though it is certain that many have
come in definance OF it. AS result
there are undoubtedly hundreds of
laborers in this country who have no
right to be here, and when the next
report OF the Commissioner General
OF Immigration appears, IL will con
| tain some eloquent figures which will
show that in comparison with Inst
year few alien contract laborers have
been denied admission.
The contract labor law is the result
of much agitation. expense. and hard
work on the part of the labor organi
cations, and they have taken much
pride in the outcome o. their work.
The members of these organizations,
as we'll rs their friends, will nat uraI
ly be indignant when the real situa-
ton is known and il wi i not be sur
prising if Congress should take
hand in the matter and direct that
rules be framed which will not multi
fy the law. and that body will in all
probability adopt supplemental legisla-
ton which will strengthen the law
now on the statue books
The cause Of the Treasury's laziness
is not understood, the officials there
refusing TO make any statement in the
premises. Possibly the fact that
many suspected contract laborers
have gone straight to the steel and
mine owners OF Pennsylvania and have
been employed by them without qucs-
tion has something TO do with which
the Treasury regards the situation.
IL is expected however. that there
will be storms OF protests from the
labor organizations of this country
when it is learned the law has been
practically nullified.
curRcH TBIAL FOR REV. KELLER.