New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-22

from Russia and the Balkan States. who have
not yet had time 20 settle down. while the re-
lief does not fall upon the rates. but is largely
contributed by the societies organized for the
purpose by the wealthy Hebrews OF the British
metropolis.
In fact. there is little demand or apparent
necessity on economic grounds for such meas
ure rs the Alien immigration bill that one is
reduced to the conviction that it mas been put
forward by the government for the twofold
purpose Of appeaeng the opposition OF the
masses to the unpopular Transvaal Chinese
Labor ordinance and OF placing in the hands
Of the government the means OF dealing mora
effectively with the foreign anarchists IN Eng
land. well of at length joining the Cont
mental powers in concerted movement against
these foes Of the entire social system. There is
much in the tenor of the bill to confirm the i'm
preston that its real aim is of police rather
than economic order. Thus 1t is far moro
sweeping In its provisions than the alien immi-
grafton laws of the United States. 1t gives the
authorities the right not only to exclude Grim
inals. ex-convicts. paupers and diseased per-
sons, but also the right of police surveillance
distribution as TO place OF residence and even
that Of exile. Here. in the United States the
government can exercise only police and SAM
tary supervision at the port of entry. For
once the alien has passed the BARRIERS he can
become citizen by quick and easy route,
and thus render himself immune from further
discrimination. But the English bill invests the
officials of the Home Department-and by this
1 do not mean judges magistrates. but non
judicial offcials-with the right OF banishing
from England any alien who. arriving with
means later on is accused Of being destitute
by common informer." the authorities being
free to enforce the exile as late as twelve
months after the poverty has ceased.
Then, too. the Home Department officials
may exclude any alien who. at the time of his
arrival or even during several years afterward
they have reason to believe is a bad character
or undesirable" or who is not furnished with
such passports certificates as the Secretary
of State for the Home Department may consider
1t necessary to exact. Moreover the bill en-
powers the authorities. If they consider par
ticular district TO be congested and overcrowded
TO order any alien, no matter how long he may
have been resident in the locality. to move away
to the utter ruin of his business; disobedience
TO the directions of the Home Department func-
tonaries in this. as IN other M ters relating
to the new law. being punished. not merely by
expulsion from the United Kingdom. but also
by previous imprisonment with hard labor I'M
der the Vagrancy act. In fact. the foreigner re-
mains exposed to arbitrary action on the part
OF the officials until he acquires letters of natur-
Aviation. which. in England is a matter of
years, and is therefore at the mercy OF the
ponce. without redress the courts, to an ex-
tent which has no parallel in the United States
out only on the Continent of Europe. This being
the case, it is difficult to refrain from the con-
viction that the main object of the new law u.s.
as have stated above. Of police rather than
or an economic character
Its submission by the Cabinet to Parliament
ana us discussion in the press have. moreover.
served 10 divert public attention from the enact
heht last week Of the ordinance providing for
the admission of Chinese labor into the Trans
yasl and Orange River colonies, In defiance OF