New-York tribune., 1903-07-20
NEARLY A MILLION ALIENS
THE YEARS. IMMIGRANTS.
AH Records Broken IN Stampede for
United States from Foreign Lands.
TFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU I

the inhabitants of foreign countries have been
added TO the population of the United States in
the fiscal year just ended. The exact number
Of arriving aliens during this time was 92l,31o,
an increase of practically 100000 over the pre-
vious year, being the largest number which
has arrived in the country in any one year of
its history. OF this number 6o4,SS5 landed at
New-York, and of the number landing in New
York 6,446 were debarred and to S769 of the
total for the country was denied admission.
When an analysis is made of this vast flood
of humanity the result is startling. The coun-
tries of Southern Europe are being depopulated
of their lowest class of population, and the
United States is being deluged with horde of
italian pushcart showers and organ grinders,
with an army of ignorant. unskilled and de-
graded humanity from Austria-H Hungary and
with band equally as large and as undesirable
from the Russian empire.
The desire for business on the part of the
great transatlantic steamship companies is de-
clared to be the cause Of this great stimulus to
immigration to this country. careful investi-
cation of the methods pursued by these COM
panies is now being made. under the direction of
Commissioner General Sargent, by special
agents of the Immigration Bureau travelling in
Europe for that purpose The reports of these
agents show that the sections of Europe men
toned completely honeycombed with a sys-
tenn of secret agents Of the steamship COM
panies. Emigration is induced through hatter-
ing descriptions of the United States. both
printed and oral The laws of the countries
themselves are evaded for this purpose. In
many cases priests, preachers. school teachers,
and even magistrates and police officers are
the paid agents Of the transportation companies
Determined efforts are to be made to so expose
this system that the foreign governments may
intervene to assist in breaking UP the practice
has now had a years experience in his Official
position during which time he has visited prac-
tically every immigrant station under MS
charge. is loath to outline what the recommen-
dation for remedy will be. he has no hesi-
fancy in personally expressing his alarm at the
existing condition. He believes that the imnli-
grafton laws of the United States should be
amended by at least adding educational test
to the qualifications which immigrants will
have to possess before they can obtain admis
sion to the country. Mr.. Sargent believes that
a grave danger threatens the country unless
something is done to check the unprecedented
influx of the undesirable foreign element.
Commissioner Sargent is looking ahead in his
calculation OF the evil which he predicts from
the acquisition of the scum Of Europe. In the
present prosperous times of this country, he
says. it may not seem difficult to assimilate a
million people a year from abroad. But the
moment the prosperous conditions CHdHSe, tlld$
moment will the burden bear heaviest. and be-
come a grave danger
Ignorance iteracy and Indifference to gov
ernment are the chief characteristics of arriving
aliens. with a tendency to settle down in the
crowded districts of the large cities and these
Commissioner Sargent thinks the chief dangers
from immigration This class of foreigners has
no knowledge of or sympathy for American in
stitutions; they do not seek homes or employ
their presence and influence are impediments.
Emphasizing this point. Commissioner Sargent
declared that the reports of his bureau show
that for the six months from January to June
80 of the present year $50 OF the immigrants
admitted at the port of NewYork became pub
lie charges in that city. More than one-fourth
of that number were immigrants from Southern
Italy.
Commissioner Sargent is making a careful in
vestigation under a paragraph of the immigra-
tion law passed March last giving him author
ity to secure information as to the number of
aliens detained in the penal. reformatory and
charitable institutions (public and private) of the
several States and Territories" AS the result of
this investigation the Commissioner declares that
he will be able to furnish facts and figures that
will open the eyes of lawmakers and others in
terested in the welfare of the country. The re-
port will furnish startling and conclusive proof
that under our present laws it is impossible to
prevent the admission of a vicious, criminal and
diseased class of immigrants. who threaten the
lives, health and morals of good citizens
The progress Of the Investigations being car
ried on both in this country and abroad is re-
ported continually to President Roosevelt who
is taking deep interest in the problem 1t is
not unlikely that he viii have some recommen-
dation to make on the subject in his message to
Congress.
The following is a comparative statement
showing the number of immigrants arrived in
the United States, by countries, in the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1902, and June 80. 1903. respec-
lively, showing increase and decrease for each
country: