The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-19
Most Other European Countries
Showed Increase, Total Num-
her Arriving Being 64S.TI3.
ABUSES OF THE LAW NJ N
Commissioner Sargent Fayors the
Reading Test and the Rigid En-
forcement of Acts Elk
Guiding the Chinese.

Xhshington. OCT Is-The ann1a! report
OF the Commissioner OF immigration was
made public to-day. Il shows that OF the
es. 7s immigrants who arrived in the United
States during the last year. 40.Sss were
males and is2.Ef females. OF the entire
number Of arrivals. Italy supplied 1855.
an increase OF 4.SR over the number for
ISll: Austria-HuEgsry. Mss. an increase Of
go. ami Russia. 1921. an increase OF
@0sa.
Most European countries showed IN in
crease. but there was a falling OF in the
arrivals from Ireland amounting TO L.43.
the total from that country being 9.lSs.
The igurss concerning Asiatic immigra-
ton show a decrease from china Of SO. the
total being l.sis. and an increase from japan
OF s.oJl. the total being isZ7o. or 10 DeE
cent
OF the entfTe number arriving. I62is we've
unable 10 read OF write. but H.eS were IN
der "a years Of age. Commenting upon this
circumstance. Commissioner Sargent says.
IL can be roughly estimated from the
foregoing figures how effective in excluding
aliens would be a reading test. such as that
proposed during ihe recent session Of Con-
gress. which would not be applied to chill
dren under Is and adults over 90
ALIENS SENT BACK
The total number Of aliens refused per
mission TO land was {.sf7. or about two
thirds OF ] per cent OF the total arrivals.
or these ASA were psupers. fs had loath-
some diseases, nine were eonyicts and 20
contract laborers. Referring TO the re-
lection OF those coming under contracts
the report says;
Although immigration has been largely
Increased. the number refused admission
during the year IS alien contract iaborers
has decreased. as compared with those
barred upon similar ground last year from
20 20 s7s The assumption. which might
naturally arise from these figures, that the
successful administration OF the law
checked attempts To gain access 10 the
United States In disregard OF its provts-
Ions f.. inadmissible in view OF the fire.
Quency OF the complaints which have
reached the bureau upon this subject during
The year under consideration
Reference Is made 10 the alien contract
labor bill pending IN the Senate. the Com
missioner expressing the hope that IL may
pass during the next session Mt. Sargent
hnds that the sanEuiue view expressed In
N elast annual report OF the bureau ss TO
the effect OF careful examination by the
United States Marine Hospital surgeons
upon the transportation lines bringing dis
eased aliens TO American ports has not
been confirmed By the experience OF the
past lCaAs
PESALTIEs NOT SEVERE ENOUGH
He adds:
'The increase OF alien immigration has
been not quite one-third over that Of 1911,
but the comparative increase CT diseased
aliens for the same period has been more
than two 10 one. The same races which
exhibited the largest number OF diseased
persons last year maintain their pre-
In this respect for the year under
consideration.
These figures show c~onclusyely the |
necessity for legislation which shall inhict
upon the transportation lines. who have the
means Of protecting themselves from the
effect OF a violation Of the law by compe-
tent medical Inspection at the port OF for
elgn embarkati1n. a penalty propoTti0ned
TO the gravity OF the risk 10 the health Of
the American people by bringing diseased
aliens 10 ports q this country. The present
penalty j. the mere return Of the diseased
aliens at the cost OF the offending line.
This. however. is virtually no penaltv.'
He strongly advocates the provision OF
the pending bill on this subject. pro-
nouncing Il the most important item In the
bill
CHINESE EXCLUSION.
Speaking OF the enforcement OF the
exclusion laws. Mr.. Sargent says
many obstacles have been encountered. and
he thus enumerates some OF them;
An additional year of experience In the
enforcement OF the Chinese exclusion laws
has served 10 confirm the opinions ex-
pressed In the last annual report. as 10 the
eravIty OF the difficulties Inherent 10 the
character OF the Monaghan race TO be met
and surmOunted. 10 Is but Justice to say
that other causes supplement- the steady |
resistance OF the Chinese 70 the require /
ments both OF the laws and OF the treaty ,
OF 1891 The transportation lines. whose
interests are affected. are Large i
and ~ mr4ue frnnnrfaEr@ ard il or4a EuEae ]
exhibit a Lack Of syn pathy with the admin
OF the law. which would fad It's
proper expression only before the ieg.sia-
tive branch Of the Government.
The chief distractions however. to the
efficient enforcement OF the law arise. On
scter Of some American citizens and others
who ind large profit in smuggling Chinese /
OF the excluded classes across our land
boundaries, and on the other. from the con-
slant interference OF those zealous persons
in our own country whose consciousness OF
their own exalted purposes In relation to
the moral amendment Of the Chinese ap-
pears 10 them ample Justification some
times for disregard OF the law and often
for the endeavOr 10 have its provisions
waived as unimpOrtant In comparison with
their own designs"
He recommends that authority be given
for appointment OF agents 10 administer
the Chinese exclusion laws. instead Of leav-
ing their enforcement to the collectors OF
and also that competent special
officers be stationed at Houg-Kong and
Canton for the enforcement % the laws In
China. instead OF leaving that duty In the
hands Of the American Consols In China.
In many cases. he says. the identinca-
ton OF Chinese persons returning to the
United States from China Is left by the
Consols to their Chinese servants.
Mr.. Sargent expresses his conviction OF
the importance TO an efficient administra-
ton OF the laws. particularly those in rela-
ton 10 the exclusion OF Chinese. of adopt
the best available method OF securing
a physical record Of every alien found
TO be inadmissIble TO the United States as
VII enable administrative officers again to
such allen should he seek access
10 this country after rejection Such a
record can be secured by the adoption OF
the Bertillon system Of Identification.