Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1901-07-04
Alien Contract Labor Law.

AllcIl OOIllt dCl Law -~"
Washington, June 25.--Spe c'al--
The alien contract labor law is |
dead letter through failure OF the
treasury department officers to
enforce it rigidly, and as u conse-
quence, immigration has grown
steadily heavier of late, until last
month it broke the recoLd i'r
several wears. Word has gone out
that the bars are down and EN-
ployers of foreign labor are max
ing the best of the opportunity
OF course, there is still a per-
functory enforcement of the law.
Agents al a total annual cost fof
about 100000 are stationed at
different ports to look out for con-
tract laborers but they accomplish
practically nothing. Under recent
rulings of the treasury department.
these agents are crippled in their
work, not being allowed to put the
emigrants through what is known
as the sweating process, nor
even to demand from him affidavit
that he does not come under a
contract to work.
At best, with the most hearty
cooperate on on the part of all the
officials, it is extremely difficult TO
prove that laborers come in viola
ton of law. Under the most
favorable circumstances it is al.
most impossible to prove con-
tract was made unless a written
one is found, but when the con-
tract was only implied the diff
culties of the immigration
authorities are multiplied. When
an implied contract is made the
new conner is coached in such a
thorough manner that experts can
seldom shake the testimonv OF
those who are asking entrance in
violation of law. Even when
those officials are convinced that
an implied contract had been
made the suspect is frequently
permitted to land if held up, AZ
the treasury officials override the
immigration officers unless it car
be proven that a contract exists
This makes the work of the agents
SO difficult that when they have
almost conclusive proof OF viola
lions of the law they are forced t.
set the suspect free.
The result is that for lonl
time not single immigrant ha
been deported for violation OF th'
law, although it is certain that
many have come in defiance o
it. As a result there are undoubt
edly hundreds of laborers in thi
country who have no right to b
here, and when the next report 0
the commissioner general of immi
grafton appears, it will contain
some eloquent figures which vii
show that in comparison with las
year few alien contract laDorer
have been denied admission.
The contract labor law is til
result of much agitation, expens
and hard work on the part Of tn
labor organization, and they hay
taken much pride in the outcom
of their work. The members {
these organizations, as we'll a
their friends. will naturally b
} indignant when the reel situatio
is known, and it will not be 81,
, prising if congress should take
, hand in the matter and direct tina
rules be framed which will nc
nullify the law, aud that body wi
in all probability adopt supple
mental legislation which vii
strengthen the law now on tn
statute books.
The cause of the treasury
laxness is not understood, I'll
officials there refusing to max
any statement in the premises an
assuming public be ID
: attitude. Possibly the fact tha
many suspected contract lahore
have gone straight to the steel an
mine owners of Pennsylvania, an
have been employed by the'
without question, has somethin
to do with the equanimity wit
+ which the treasury regards tn
situation. 1t is expected, how
ever, that there will be storms o
of protests from the labor organ
izations of this country whel.
learned the law has been p,act
cally nullitied.
Cheap Political Talk.