Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-30
MATTERS IN WASHINGTON
Influx of Italians Alarms U. S.
Officials.
Regular Padrone System In Operation
to Bring Large Numbers OF Aliens
Into This Country-Arrivals 3d.
900 Month-Foreign Element
Threatens to Have a Pro.
nounced Influence,

The immigration authorities at Wash
ington have taken cognzance of the fro
quent murders, such as the barrel mys-
terry assaults savoring of the vendetta,
MATCHMAKING schemes, counterfeitinS
cases and other crimes that have been
traced TO newly arrived aliens. Steps
nave been taken to put n stop to these
things, in so far it is within the power
of the immigration officials to end them
by strictcr enforcement of the immigra-
ton laws so as to exclude persons with
criminal tendencies.
The officials are becoming alarmed over
the tremendous influx of Italians from
Southern Italy. which always furnishes
the least desirable class of foreigners
They now outnumber the immigrants from
every other country of Europe, and at the
present time are coming at the rate Of
10000 a month. Ninety per cent. of them
remain in the big cities, where they en-
ter all kinds of cheap industries such as
banana selling, etc. In New York the
complaints against low grade Italians are
constantly growing. and they are re-
garded as the most dangerous class of
residents found there.
1t was stated at the treasury department
to-day that good proof exists that there
is regular padrone system in operation
in the United States and Italy for bring
me large NUMBERS oil Italians into TINS
country IN iact' IL IS believed that inc
pulk Oh the itahans that are now flock
ing here are brought over under contract.
The officials have been of this opinion
for some time, but the tracks of those
engaged in the enterprise have been COW
creu UP SO Sklillully that II mas oeen eN-
ceedingly dlfllcult to get hold of the evil
dences necessary to secure convictions
Inc scheme is a big one and involves
I 10 bot In, ole t.,
States. 1t may be stated ON authority
also that a special agent is now abroad
in search Of facts that will warrant the
government in taking steps to break mp
the importation of Italian workmen and
punish those engaged in the business
The matter is being kept confidential,
for If everything were to be printed that
is known about the subject it would in
| terfere with the plans of the department.
Yes" said Commissioner General Sar-
gent to the Brooklyn Eagle correSpun-
dent. II have observed the numerous
accounts of crimes in New York and else
where, for which foreigners are held 10
be responsible. There is no doubt that We
are getting thousands of people we do not
want from various southern European
countries, but there is no law that gives
us authority to exclude them on general
grounds Unless we car show that an
alien is either likely to become public
charge. is diseased or a convicted f"lon
we must admit him. We are going Just
as far as the law will possibly permit
us in rejecting persons whom we think
are undesirable. But as surely as we re-
fuse admission to an alien "A protest is
made and the case comes to Washington
for action on an appeal. Here. for in
stance is the record on apcpals for to-
day at the port of New York We dis
posed Of twenty-siX appeals to-day that
were made from the decision of our in
spcctors at New York You will notice
that in every instance an Italian had
been refused admission. In addition to
these tWcntY-siX there were q great many
rc iections that did not get as far as
Washington. In all We deportcd 30
aliens 1T the port of New York last month
out of a total of 7o.3Y for that port The
total dcportations for an ports last month
W;'E -, ~ e:c out OIL an Aggregate enumeration
An examination of tn" immigration
statement for the month of March shows
many Interesting features. 1t indicates
that about onc-third of the total lmmi-
grafton TO the United States TOW is made
UP of Italians. Italy, including Sicily and
Sardinia, sent 3,16j subjects to the nited
States last month, an increase of more
than ,100o over the record for the CORES
bonding month in lEo2. Austria hungary
came next with @,Jji. It gain of tribe
oyer 1000 over March OF the proceeding
year The Russian empire ana Finland
contributed 1l.7ul subjects, which was Il
falling of of nearly 1000 from the t}-ures
of March, 1902
None of the other European countries
sent more than 1000 immigrants to tho
United States in March. the total from
t1rope bppp no total from, ui.