The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-27
NEARLY A MILLION ALIENS,
SSs,O48 Persons Came In in 1908
EOS sos More Than In 1907.


WASHINGTON, Oct. a8.-Ths annual re-
port Of Commissioned General OF Immi-
grafton Sargent was made public to-day
The statistics Of immigration, the pre-
liminary totals OF which we're announced
last week, show that the total immigration
into the United States during the fiscal
year 1908 aggregated SS7 ,O4e persons, an
increase over last year OF POS ,S0S, or about
SO per ce mt.
The report indicates an increase in imnd-
grafton from all foreign sources, suggesting,
according to Mr. Sargent, that the chiet cause
Of the influx of aliens into the United States
during the year VAS the Inducements Of
fered to settlers rather than any specially
localized causes of discomfort in their own
countries. OF the total Storage Innigra-
ton, s14, 5O7 came from Europe, %, 088 from
Asia and l2,573 from all other sources.
The Commissioner adds:
If TO these figures are added those repre-
senting the arrivals Of alien cabin pas
sengers (84,289), the total immigration OF
aliens to the United States during the year
aggre gated 92l ,3l5, or l05,O43 more than
the greatest number heretofore reported
for any one year The great bulk Of aliens
added to our population during the year Just
passed came from Austria-Hungary, Italy
and Russia, those three countries alone
steerage aliens-or more than two thirds
Exc usive of those denied admission at
the land boundaries of the United States
there were rejected altogether s.789 persons.
including l,os8 persons brought into the
country in violation OF the Alien Contract
Labor law. Mr.. Sargent says.
AS regards the rejection OF diseased
aliens, must reiterate the statement that
it exhibits on the part of some of the trans
portatlon lines such wanton disregard
OF the laws OF the country as fully vindicates
the wisdom Of Congress in imposing a PEN
atty as punishment for bringing diseased
aliens to the United States.
As showing the comparative thrift of the
races, attention is directed to the fact that
the II 1872 Germans brought 50, 4sO, 1884, while
1876, III South Italians brought only 81. 1885,
OIL, and 2s45l English 81, 405 1855, and the
same number of Magyars showed only
$34l ,4Ol, and 80 6O7 Gre a ians and Slavs only
34O7,1l7.
In his letter Of transmittal to Secretary
Cortelyou. Commissioner Sargent SAYS the
new immigration law has been in operation
such short time that comprehensive criti-
cism is not possible, but that in some respect 8
ii obviously requires amendment and urges
that the provision exempting transporta-
ton companies from the payment of the
head tax on aliens in transit through this
country to foreign territory be stricken out
Inc commissioner recommends that the
list of inadmissible aliens be still further
enlarged, that United States medical
officers be stationed at foreign ports TO ex-
anime aliens en- route for his country, that
legislation DO enacted rest ricting the au-
thority Of 8 ate and FEDERAL courts to grant
naturalization only to aliens who can prove
the necessary statutory residence in this
country by records kept in the immigration
office, and last, and most important, accord
in Ia lati ion l<,
enacted for the proper dist ribution Of those
aliens who are allowed to enter the United
States. so az to prevent the formation Of
alien colonies in the large cities, which, he
declares are hotbeds for the propagation
Of anarchistic doctrines.