The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-19
Cut Rates Across the
Ocean Bringing Added
Thousands.
How to Keep Out Unde-
SirableS a Very Serious
Question.
Health Requirements Are
Now Enforced With
Stringency.
TINE recent connection anon.

THE recent competition among
transatlantic steamship lines.
a whereby steerage passage from
Europe to America was reduced as low
as $40, by enabling many thousanes Of
aliens TO come to the United States who
would not otherwise 5have been able to
do so. has focused attention anew ON
one Of the gravest public questions-the
immigration problem.
prompted by the annual reports of
Commissioned General OF Immigration
frank P. Sargent. Congress has for
some time realized that the yearly in
Nasion of our land by a vast horde OF
aiens of every type is in reality a
menace TO all that is best in national IN
Sututons. and various legislation has
peeh enacted 10 throw restrictions
around the admission of foreigners
lhese include a test OF literacy and the
possession OF fixed amount of money
Unfortunately the Hteracy test can be
met by the very type Of alien not desir-
able Tor a citizen. while the reduction
IN the cost of transportation naturally
recruits In more persons being able to
iand IN America with enough dollars n,
their pockets 10 meet the requirements
OF the law. The immigration authori-
ties have therefore been compelled to
feiE on the remaining restrictions. prin-
cipally the health requirements. to en-
able them TO exclude the worst of this
In-raff. yet nearly half Of the recent ar
rivals have been debarred from adnis-
sion, and have been sent back 10 the
ports whence they came
Not an Unmixed Evil.
II is not that all immigrants are I'M
desirable as citizens. A country whose
entire population is extraneous within
go or 300 years is in a poor position to
assume such postulate. while the rec
ords OF foreign-bOrn citizens is such as
10 preclude the wisdom Of anything like
prohibitive legislation. But only the
most reckless or foolishly optimistic
can contemplate the annual influx Of
approximately 1,o1o000 souls without
grave concern. and keen realization
o. the vital bearing on the welfare of
ali IS the quality and characteristics Of
the new element.
The constituent elements Of this
army of invasion are to be consid-
cred. their individual character and ca
pacity for useful work their respect for
law and order, their ability to stand the
strain morally, physically. and men
tally OF the life Of their new surround
simulate with the people Of this coun-
try. and thus become a source Of
strength for the support of American
institutions and civilization instead of a
danger in periods OF strain and trial
TO this end the Bureau OF Immigra-
ton is making a constant study OF the
various tyDes represented I'm the immi-
grant class. with the result that such
study has been reduced to a science,
ard while, for diplomatic reasons. no
expression can be obtained from the
authorities upon what nationalities fur
nish desirable and what undesirable
aliens. yet the line is sharply drawn,
and immigration encouraged from the
one and discouraged from the other as
much as may be within the provisions
Of existing legislation.
Mr.. Sargent's Views.
Human beings vary" says Commits
sioner General Sargent. mot so much
because Of any inherent difference Of ma
ture, az because of difference In the
molding influences OF which az every
stage OF development they are the pro-
duct. The problem presented. therefore.
is how may the possibility-nay. proba-
bility-of danger from an enormous and
miscellaneous influx Of aliens be con-
verted, by a wise provision and prOvis-
ION, into a power for stability and Sc
curfty.
IF such a solution can be obtained,
II would seem the part of foolhardi-
ness 10 make no effort TO that end.
to trust fatuously 70 the circumstances
that no very serious i'll resulted from the
failure 20 take any especial care in