The Washington times., 1902-05-22
IMMIGRATION BILL
BEFORE THE HOUSE

ing England. Scotland. ireland. Wales.
tries, furnished more than three fourth
Of the in ration from all countries.
while cGi n Europe. including Italy.
Austria-E gary. Russia. and Poland.
furnished less than / per cent thereof.
These Comparisons are mace with no
intent 10 reflect upon the. nationalit:cs
named, but merely to show the marked
change in the source of immigration dur
ing recent years.
''0ne other important fact remains &c
be mentioned. Prior TO 1880 the larger
portion OF the immigration went inland
to the farms and assisted in building up
the great States of the West and North
west.
THE immigration since 1850, and es-
pecially for the past decade. has re
manned almost wholly in the Atlantic
States and in the cities thereof anG
thus. while perhaps not of such vital
Importance In comparison with the to-
tai population of the country. 1t has
brought a heavy pressure OF COMPETE
ton upon special localities, thereby Civ
ing a spur to the demand for restric-
tion which comes to Congress with such
insistence.
Labor Demands Restriction.
with almost unanimous voice the la
Dor interests of the country have asked
from Congress legislation for further
and more effective restriction of immi
grafton.
Nor is the demand confined to this
one division of the people. II is sus-
tanned by the press, urged by the econo-
nlists and publicists. and Endorsed by
the platforms of the political parties.
Opinions differ as to specific methods
to be applied. some asking measures
more drastic than others. but all unite
upon the need of immediate action that
shall at least perfect the present laws
and regulations and make them more eff
fert'vn fer the PURPOSES intended.
THE concentration of such a large
portion Ot the total immigration, and of
almost ali the undo sirable immigration,
in comparatively few localities causes
all immediate competition in the labor
market, from which has sprung the in
sistent demand for restriction.
The TESTIMONY of all Representatives
OF labor is uniformly In favor therefore,
as stated, OF further and more effective
restriction. however much they may dif-
fer as to the method best for immediate
trial.
1T is alleged that immigration causes
an oversupply of labor and displaces
higher standards OF living: that labor
fails to get the share of general pros
perity otherwise obtainaSle, because
constantly increasing supply of workmen
makes demands for increase in wages IN
times of prosperity Ineffective. and that
while this competition is felt less in
times of business activity it will act
with crushing force IL period of de-
preston should come.
Two Powerful Forces.
Thus two powerful forces, immigra-
ton and machinery, operate jointly TO
prevent a rise in wages and conse-
of labor. The kind of immigration re-
ceived during the last decade recruits
the ranks of the unskilled. from which
is constantly drawn the supply to sup
plant higher priced labor in the skilled
trades. Machinery makes 1t possible to
subdivide processes of labor and use
women and children in place OF men for
merly employed.
Organized labor understands this.
and therefore stands as unit in de-
mands upon Congress for further re-
striction.'
The bill proposes the exclusion of an
archists.
Mr.. Bartholdt rep, MOI asked what
machinery was proposed to enable the
officials to determine whether or not an
immigrant was an anarchist.
General Shattuc-Exactly the same