Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-19
IMMIGRANTS STILL POUR IN
Most Countries Send More Settlers Than
Ever 10 United States.
IRELAND, HOWEVER, SHOWS A DECREASE
COmmIssioner rEe UrEes ReadinE
Test to Keep out AsiatIcs and
other Glasses of Unde-
sirable Aliens.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1s-The annual re-
port Of the commissioner Of immigration
was made public today.
1t shows that Of the 64s, 743 immigrants
who arrived in the United States during the
last year 466. 4s9 were males and 1872 1874
females. OF the entire number italy sup
piled 17s,375. an increase OF 42.379 over
1901; Austria Hungary. 17i.ss9 an increase
Of 5s.599, and Russia 1o7 .347. an increase OF
22.0s0. ireland sent 1.423 less than last
year. or 29.i3s altogether.
Asistic immigration shows a decrease
from China Of $40. the total being 1,64s,
and an increase from Japan OF 1901, the
total being 1920.
OF the entire number arriving 1s2. 1873
we're unable to read or write. but 1903
were under IA years Of age.
Commenting upon this circumstance,
COMMISSIONS Sargent says:
II can be roughly estimated from the
foregoing figures how effective in excluding
aliens would be a reading test such as that
proposed during the recent session OF con-
gress, which would not be applied to chill
dren under Is and adults over 80.
The total number OF aliens refused per-
mission to land was 4,974, or about two
thirds Of 1 per cent OF the total. OF these
3.e44 were paupers, 709 had loathesome
diseases. 9 were convicts and 275 con-
tracted laborers.
Referring to the rejection Of those COM
ing under contracts the report says;
Although immigration has been largely
increased the lumber refused admission
has decreased from s27 to 275. The assump-
ton which might naturally arise that the
successful administration Of the law had
checked attempt to gain access to the
United States, is inadmissible In view Of the
frequency Of complaints during the year.
Reference is made to the alien contract
IT.. a. - = 5000 ~ 49,.
missioner expressing the hope that it may
pass.
Find Mind-DtseAaed Aliens.
Mr.. Sargent says:
The increases Of alien immigration have
but the increase Of diseased aliens has beer
more than two to one. The same races
which exhibited the largest number OF dis
eased persons last year maintain their pre-
eminence in this respect.
These figures show conclusively the neces-
sity for legislation which shall infiict or
transportation lines, who have the mean:
S 81 %gfonec az the ehem poft 81 e emb msGltSl IN !
penalty proportioned TO the gravity Of tbs
risk to the American people. The presen
alien at the cost OF the OFFENDING line. This
however. is virtually no penalty at all.
He strongly advocates the provision
made In the pending bill on this subject
pronouncing 1t the most important item II
the bill.
Speaking of the enforcement of the Chi.
reese exclusion laws. Mr.. Sargent sayE
many obstacles have been encountered and
be thus enumerates some Of them:
An additional year OF experience in tn
enforcement of the Chinese exclusion law,
has served to confirm the opinions ex
gravity OF the difficulties which have TO b.
met II is but just to say that other thai
racial causes supplement the steady re
sistance of the Chinese to the requirement
both OF the laws and the treaty OF 1894. Tn
transportation lines, whose financial inter
ests are affected. are large and Of grea
lack OF sympathy with the administratio
OF the law. which would find its proper ex
preston only before the legislative brancl
Of the government. The chief distractions
however, to the efficient enforcement of tn
law arise from the INSCRIPTIONS chsracte
Chinese across our land boundaries, an
from the constant interference of thos
Jealous persons In our own country. who's
poses, in relation TO the moral amendmen
OF the Chinese. appears to them ampl
justification to disregard the law.
He recommends that authority be give
for the appointment Of agents to sdministe
the Chinese exclusion laws and that CON
petent special oficers be stationed at Hon
Kong and Canton for the enforcement G
the laws in China, as In many cases a
present the Identification Of Chinese re
turning to the United States is left by tn
eonsuls to their Chinese servants.
Mr.. Sargent also expresses his conviC
tion OF the Importance to an eficient ad
ministration Of the laws OF securing sue
a physical record Of every alien found
be insdmissible as will enable ofncers
again identify him. Such a record can, b
thinks, best be secured by the adoption
The RerfiIlon avatam