Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-04
MENACE N TIE LAN
Acting Secretary Taylor Points
Out Flaws In the Immi-
grafton Act
UNDESIRABLE CLASSES ARRIVE
Every Effort Made to Keep Out Certain
Glasses, But it is Impossible Under
the Present statute-some of the
Difficulties the Bureau Has to Con.
tend With.

| tend With.
| Washington, May Acting Secre-
| tary of the Treasury Taylor, who ha:
charge of all matters connected with
comment on the exposure of the meth
DDS being pursued with reference to
the coming TO this country of the law
less element from Sicily and southern
Italy.
He examined the figures which. re-
vealed that the number of Italian i'm
migrants had increased in ten years
from 10000 to 225,O0O year, and was
asked whether extraordinary steps
should be taken to exclude immigrants
whose natural tendency was to apply
methods of the Malta In America.
The matter presents serious
phase" said Assistant Secretary Tay-
lor, as all question in connection with
the great influx of immigration do.
There is one criticism l have to make on
the recent articles and that is con-
corning the statement that the law Is
VIGOROUSLY violated and evaded, and
that large sums of money are spent by
Italy every year in educating it's lower
criminal classes how to pass inspection
at Ellis island.
Now, l do not think that is true,
as a general thing, that the law is vio-
lated to any great extent. The immi-
grafton officers at Ellis island are more
active than ever, the number OF en-
ployes has been increased at that point.
and along the Canadian border, where
many thousands of immigrants former
ly came in, the force has been doubled
What is your ground for saying that
the law is not being yiolated?" was
asked.
Simply because the government is
doing everything in its power to en-
force the law. 1t may be that there
are occasions where people get in who
should never be admitted to America.
This is due to the fact that we do no.
know them. ANY immigrant who comes
in must meet the requirements of the
law. He must show the board of in
quiry that he is able bodied, capable of
earning living, has money or has
friends who are willing to assume his
support until he has obtained posi-
ton. If he cannot do that he is sent
back.
IF q man is known to have criminal
record, the steamship company is re
CURED TO return him to the port whence
he came. Only yesterday l signed an
order for the return of an Italian be-
cause he at one time engaged in a
fight. Sometimes the board refuses To
pass an immigrant simply on his APP
pearance.
I'VE are constantly on the lockout
for persons who have been induced to
come here as contract laborers. They
are always returned. In this work we
are greatly aided by the laborer organi
cations, who almost daily report cases
requiring investigations.
But what steps is the department
taking to ascertain first hand in Eu-
rope the methods being used by the
steamship companies and by employers
of labor in this country to bring the I'M
desirable element of southern Italy to
the United States?"
The department is making its own
Only recently we APP
making an investigation on the other
side. Others will be appointed for the
same work. 1t is impossible for us to
have, however, a complete criminal
census of Europe to identify persons
with a criminal record or criminal
who come to this country.
but does not the board of inquiry at
New York discriminate against immi-
grants of nationality that is supposed
to produce a larger proportion of Grim
inals?"
Unfortunately that is impossible I'M
der the law. The law makes no dis
between nationalities. The
Scandinavian, who is shown by exper-
fence to make a good citizen, stands on
exactly the same plane as the Italian,
who may come here to join the Malta
or devote his life to a peanut roaster,
or barrel organ. All we can do is to
ascertain that the newcomer is not dis
eased,, that he has not a criminal rec
ord or that he is not likely to become
a public charge"
Does the new immigration law rem
der exclusion of undesirable immigra-
ton any easier than the old law?"
Yes and no. The provisions regard
ing qualifications are the same. 1t is
the old law copied. The new law, how
ever increases the head tax from 81 to
50, which, l presume, has no great eff
feet in reducing the number of immi-
grants, but it does provide fine of $lO0
a head on the steamship company for
every Immigrant deported. Previously
the only penalty the company paid
when an immigrant was deported was
to take him back to his native country
free Of charge