The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-10-27
LARGE INCREASE
IN IMMIGRATION
Annual Report of Commissioner Gen.
eraI Sargent Contains Many
Facts Of Interest.

annual report of Commits siOner Gener-
al Frank ?. Sargent of the bureau OF
immigration shows a large increase
Of Storage immigration over that of
the preceding year, the aggregate for
the fiscal year of 1903 being S57,046,
an excess over that of last year of
1903, or SO per cent. The statistics
show an increase of immigration from
all foreign sources, suggesting as the
chief cause of the influx Of aliens in
to the United States during the year
the inducement offered to settlers here
rather than any special causes of dis
content in their own countries. OF
the total steerage immigration there
came from Europe S14,5O7; from Asia
1896, and from all other sources
1858.
Total immigration.
If to these figures are added those
representing the total arrivals of alien
cabin passengers, 64,269, the result
will show that the total immigration
of aliens to the United States during
the year aggregated 921, 315 or 105 ,043
more than the greatest number here
tofore reported for any one year. The
greatest number of immigrants, $780,
622, came from Italy, an increase Of
52,247 over last year; Austria-Hungary
furnished 206,011, an increase of a.
OPP; Russia 136,093, an increase Of
28,746; Germany 400S6, az increase
of 11,79S; Sweden 4G,02S, an increase
Of 1874; Ireland $3.50, an increase
Of 6072, and England 1929, an in
crease Of 1854. Of the Oriental coun-
tries Japan was foremost, with 49,
96S, an increase Of 569S; while China
contributed 2209, an increase Of $50
over last year.
Of the total number of steerage
aliens 613,146 were males and 243 800
were females, of whom 102,431 were
less than IA years of age There were
of these 3341 who could read, but could
not write, and 1861, who could
neither read or write The remainder
were able to both read and write. The
total amount of money brought by
them into the United States was s16,-
117,573.
Number Rejected.
Exclusive of those denied admission
at the boundaries, 696 alien immi-
grants were rejected for various
causes, the number of reflections being
nearly double those of the preceding
year OF these 1912 were paupers;
1878 were afflicted with disease, 1886
were contract laborers Concerning
these figures, Commissioner Sargent
says:
''As regards the rejection of dis
eased aliens, must reiterate the state
ment made in the last annual reports
that it exhibits upon the part of some
of the transportation lines such a wan
ton disregard of the laws of the coun-
congress in authorizing by the act
approved March 8, 1903, the imposi-
ton Of penalty for bringing diseased
aliens to this country in those cases
was perceptible at the time of foreign
embarkatfOn."
Commissioner Sargent strongly rec
Ommends that an examination by
competent medical officials be made
of immigrants on behalf of this gov
eminent at foreign ports. He believes
that skilled physicians representing
this government, should be detailed
for this service The commissioner
refers to the grave danger in this
country found in the colonization of
alien communities in our great cities.
Such colonies" he says, ARE a
menace to the physical, social, moral
and political security of the country
Should Be Sent to Country.
Removed from the sweatshops and
slums Of the great cities and given
the opportunity to acquire a home,
every alien, however radical his theo-
ries of government and individual
rights haze been, will become con-
serative supporter in theory and prac-
tice of those institutions under whose
benign protection he has acquired and
can defend his household goods Suit
able legislation is therefore strongly
urged to establish agencies by means
of which with or without the cooper
alton of the states, aliens shall be
made acquainted with the resources of
the country at large. the industrial
needs of the various sections, in both
skilled and unskilled labor, the cost
of living, the wages paid, the price
and capabilities of the lands, the char
acter of the climate, the duration of
the seasons furnished by some of the
great railways"
Commissioner Sargent, in view of
the arrival of approximately 100000
immigrants annually, urges that legis-
lation be enacted to improve the quail
ity, morally and intellectually of those
admitted.
The report indicates a marked i'm
provement in the enforcement OF the
complex and strongly resisted Chi
nese exclusion laws. Experience has