New-York tribune., 1903-03-10
IMMIGRATION PUZZLES.
HosC to Apply the Neuc L00O to In
sular Possessions PerpleiT1ng.
fer TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNE.I

uyash,ne+on March e-Just how the new immi-
grafton law Is to be made to apply 10 all OF tlie
territory over which by its own terms IL eAlenuS
"a inst now the subject Of deep cogtation on the
,ert of the Trepsur Department officials. Tnere
is no question that the law is made appicaoie 70
the Philippines, Guam. Porto Rico ana f7a"A'A
from the fact that the United STATES mas Jui l0
tion over these islands Something over a year ago
Judge I.acombe OF the United States Court neIc
that Frtpinos were not citizens OF the Ohlteu
States and the immigration laws or TINS country
applied against residents Of those ISLANDS the Same
as against citizens Of other foreign terrleory
Th,s anniication was made against Porto Ricans,
and since this decision the immigration ofdciais
have enforced the immigration laws against Fill
pinos and Porto Ricans
whether the citizenship Of the Filipino and the
Porto Rican is to be changed by reason OF the
ann1,cation of the new immigration law to those
islands Is the question on which the legal authorl-
ties OF the department will have to render oe-
cIsou. Commissioner General Sargent Is ASKING II
natives Of these islands, over which the Oniteu
States has jurisdiction, still not citizens OF the
United States how is the new immigration law 70
be extended over that territory? According 20 the
present understanding 1t will be necessary 10 put
the provisions of the new law into enect In 'ile
various islands both against foreigners coming 10
the islands and in view Of the citizenship status
also to enforce the same law against ciuzens OF
the United States going to those 1sianos. thlS
same condition will prevail in this country Wnere
the laws will have to be enforced against the du-
mission Of the natives Of these islands
When Commissioner General Sargent confronted
this problem this afternoon at his desk ne
scratched his head medtatively and declared that
he should pass the whole subject up to the law,
officer of the department for an opinion The
Commissioner General, however. has other troubles
IN connection with the new law. 1t prohibits the
sale Of all intoxicating liquors at immigrant sta
tions. At the Ellis Island station beer Is sold. and
It is said to be greatly relished by the newly ar
many. The little children Of the Germans, who
have been practically brought up on beer. seem
to lose all sense OF homesickness and distress as
soon as they have bottle Of beer, and officials
Of the service declare that to do away with the sale
Of beer at immigrant stations will work hardship
70 % this @ 6a t M * psoee DO n
get intoxicated on beer. It will be barred The The
leges which the department has to dispose of at
the station and to cut 1t off will be to lessen the
revenue, which, under the new law, goes into the
immigrant fund instead of directly into the Treas
ury as formerly. Commissioner General Sargent,
however. will make no delay in putting the new
regulations into effect soon as the law depart
rnent has finished the codifcation Of the subjects
contained in the statute so that regulations may
q intelligently drawn.