Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-06-12
LABOR IS AHEAD
Penrose's Committee on Immigra,
tion Has Important Hearing.
KEEP THE CHEAP LABOR OUT
That Is a-Demand Which It Is Pro-
posed to Meet BY Measures Now
Pending Before the United States
Congress.
Especial Correspondence.

ingman, every employer of labor, every
wage Garner and every capitalist must
necessarily be interested in the legls
lation which is now before congress
calling for the restriction of immigra
tion. ., H3
Senator Boies Penrose, as chairman
of the committee on immigration OF
the United States senate, presided over
an interesting meeting of that commit
toe few days ago, when the Shattuck
bill regulating the entrance OF immi.
grants into this country and seeking
to bar Objectionable persons, was re-
viwed and a hearing was given rep
resentatives of workingmens organi'
cations and other organizations inter.
ested in the restriction OF immigra'
ton.
Senator Penrose has been leader
in the movement for the restriction OF
immigration, and he is confident that
there will be remedial legislation
passed before the end of this session
of congress.
Charles II. Litchman, who was one
of the organizers of the knights OF
Labor, and who has been interested IN
labor organizations for many years
was one of the star witnesses before
Senator Penrose's committee. Mr.,
Litchman spoke of the great need OF
curtailing the number OF immigrants
coming to this country from Southern
Italy, Austria-Hungary and Poland. He
said he recognized the fact that this
country has grown to it's present pros
porous condition largely through the
labor the industry and the enterprise
of immigrants who came here 80 or ~
years ago.
Since 1890, however, he said fully
five millions of Immigrants have land
ed in this country, four millions OF
whom should never have been per.
mitted to set foot on these shores.
He said that in recent years the un'
desirable immigrants have been set
tling in the large cities of New York
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Hi
nuis. and that there is serious danger
to the peace of the country and to life
and property of our citizens from
the people huddled in these settle
ments.
He said the Knights of Labor had
begun the agitation against the indis.
criminate' admission of immigrants by
bringing about the passage OF the law
prohibiting the importation of labor
under contract.
LABOR MUST BE CONSIDERED.
This was good move, but by far a
more important measure today would
be one to keep from this country the
hordes of undesirable foreigners who
are coming into competition with
American labor and endangering the
institutions of the country.
He spoke of the combinations of cap.
ital into trusts and the amalgamation
of labor throughout the country, and
with these two great contending forces
it was eminently proper that the de,
mands of labor should be recognized
by congress, so that capital should not
have an unfair advantage through the
importation of cheap labor.
He demanded that not only should
there be restrictions at the great sea.
ports of the country, but that there
should be a more efficient service on
the Canadian border, where thousands
of immigrants who have been stopped
at New York, Philadelphia and Bal.
timore, ultimately find their way into
this country.
Senator Penrose frequently inter.
rupted Mr.. Litchman and showed keen
interest in the subject and desire
to have the committee fully enlighten.
ed as to existing conditions, SO that
he could have the hearty cooperation
of his colleagues in pressing for the
passage of the bill.
Senator Penrose expressed the opin.
ion that majority of the congress.
men will be favorable to the bill, but
that there will undoubtedly be objec.
tions to some OF it's provisions.
EDUCATIONAL TEST.
The educational test, which requires
an immigrant to be able to read part
OF the constitution of the United
States in some language before he or
she shall be admitted to this country
was generally favored by those who
appeared before Senator Penroses
committee.
The general thought was that this
restriction would bar out a large per.
centage of the most undesirable
classes of immigrants.
There is one provision of the bill
which number of the congressman
are opposing. 1t is that introduced by
Senator Penrose himself. 1t prohibits
the sale of Intoxicating liquors within
the enclosures where immigrants are
detained pending examination for their
fitness to enter the country
Even the chief immigrant inspector
Mr.. Williams. from New York, opposed
Senator Penrose in this particular
He informed the senator that he saw
no reason why the sale of beer should
&c prohibited there and allowed in
New York city. He told of instances
in which mothers gave their children
beer instead of milk from bottles
Senator .Penrose wanted to know If il
Warp not trup that while 1juIIOr w G