The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-21

the house at Washington
Il with favorable recommended
ton from committee a bill
which represents. we are told the
fruit of much study of the problem of
how best to restrict immigration. 1t
brings together in one act a number of
acts in relation to immigration passed
at different times by congress: and
it also imposes additional checks and
conditions.
One of these is provision for fol-
lowing UP immigrants after their en-
trance so as to deport those who with
in five years shall become criminal or
pauper burdens upon state or munich,
pal institutions. At present the lime
limit is one year. The new measure
also excludes anarchists, these being
defined as persons who believe in or
advocate the overthrow by force or
violence of all governments or forms
Of law or the assassination of public
officials; also epleptics and persons
who have been insane within five years
of coming here or who have had as
many as two attacks of insanity at
any time. Provision is made for the
periodical inspection Of public char-
table institutions With the purpose of
detecting aliens who have become pub
lie charges within the tive-year period
so that they may be deported In
number of other ways the present laws
bearing upon immigration are strength
ened
Undoubtedly this act is satisfactory
so far as it goes; but the question re-
mains, Ought we not to restrict more
comprehensively at least for a time?
There are "a number of careful students
of social and economic conditions who,
without entertaining any prejudice
against foreigners as a class or being
at all in sympathy with nativist move
ments, believe with Dr.. Francis A.
Walker that it is time for the United
States to take a rest from wholesale
immigration, in order that the great
unassimilated hordes already in may
have a fair opportunity to become
Americanized. There are today no
pressing industrial reasons for the con-
tinuance of rapid immigration. The
country has developed it's great inter-
nal works in which it at one time
found need of the raw labor of domes-
ticated Europeans. OF unskilled labor
there is not the dearth which once eX-
listed; no doubt there is enough to
carry our industries forward for many
years without the need of recruiting
from abroad. We must remember that
labor saving devices are continually
enabling few skilled workers using
new machinery to do the work once
performed at greater expense by many
unskilled workers, toiling by hand,
While total suspension of immigra-
ton would not be practicable in the
present status of International inter-
course, it is worthy of careful thought
whether there ought not to be a very
marked curtailment for time of the
incoming tide, This is demanded by
proper concern for the welfare OF the |
American workingman, who needs pro-
lection against low-wage competition;
but it seems desirable from the much |
broader standpoint of the social and |
political welfare of all grades and con-
ditions of the American people. A res |
olute movement by congress toward |
such additional restriction, if made |
judiciously and without show of pre-
judice, would, we believe. be approved |
by large majority of the substantial
inhabitants of this country, both ma
tive born and foreign, 1t would not |
mean that immigration is unwelcome, |
but that It must adapt itself to the |
assimilative powers and capacity OF
the welcoming hosts. It is not inhos- |
pitality 10 suggest when the house is |
full and people are sleeping on the floor
that the front door be closed until |
more room can be arranged.