Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-05
MARKED IMPROVEMENT
CHARACTER OF IMMIGRANTS
REGARDED AS BETTER.
Strict Enforcement of the Contract
Labor Law-Operation Of the
Padrone System.
BY WM. E. CURTIS.

United States and more than 100000
during the last ten years. The total In
1903 was 921 ,315, and in 1904 1t was S4O,-
ia. During the last five months, since
July 1, 1904, the arrivals have been more
than $685. and they are still coming at
the rate of about $500 day. During the
last two days for which returns have
been Observation-Disclosures % and 26-the
total was 5000 Since July 1, 1902, more
than 100000 have been added to our
population, and at the present rate the
next census will show an increase of
100000 by immigration alone The ban
near year for immigrants was 1908. There
was a decrease of SO,601 in 1904, which
was confined to Austria Hungary, Italy
and Sweden, three of the largest sources
of immigration.
Most Immigrants From Italy.
Italy contributes more to the growth Of
our population than any other country,
having sent us 23O,662 Of her sons and
daughters in 1908 and 1926 in 1904.
Austria is the second contributor, having
sent us 206,O11 in 1908 and III, 1855 in 1904;
Russia comes third, with total of 1885,
O93 in 1908 and 145,141 in 1904 Sweden
sent us 46,o2o OF her sturdy sons and
daughters in 1908 and 27,763 in 1904
Commissioner Sargent of the immigra-
ton bureau does not understand the reason
for the falling off in the arrivals from
Italy. Austria-Hungary and Norway and
sweden, which altogether amount to "a ,446.
There seems to be no rational explanation.
Usually variations in the number of arrivals
are due to political and economical
causes. but nothing of that kind has oc-
Cured recently in the countries named
Nor Is there any explanation of the I'M
usual number of arrivals from England
and Ireland during the past few months.
Ih0 exodus from O11an nd fO
began about the LIST of July, 1903, and has
continued up to this day, 10 900 more i'm
migrants arriving from that country dur
Ing the fiscal year of 1904 than in 1903.
and during the last three months the
gain has been 1900 over the correspond
ing period OF the previous year. There is
a similar exodus from Ireland. During
the last three months 1910 more immi-
grants have arrived from that country
1908.
Meantime the falling off in arrivals from
Italy, Austria-Hungary and Norway con-
tlnues During July, August and Septem-
Der the arrivals from Austria Hungary
were 2,246 less than during the correspond
off of HOPS Italians and 3,165 Swedes.
There has been some increase in the ar
rivals from Russia, but the number is not
so large as one would expect, considering
the danger of CONSUMPTION for the war
There has been considerable increase in
the arrivals from Germany, France, Spain,
Turkey (Which means SYRIA and several
other countries. excepting Japan, which
shows decrease Of 5,704. This proves the
patriotism of the Japanese, who never run
away from war.
Marked Improvement in Character.
The immigration figures furnish an inter-
esting study. There were nearly twice as
many men as women although there was
an increase in the number of women this
year. There were 10915O children under
fourteen years of age and 40. $50 adults over
forty-1ve years of age. The unusual num-
Der of 640,014 could read and write, and the
total amount of money shown at the immi-
grafton stations was $50, S94 1888, or 4,776, $40
more than was brought in last year. This
is considered evidence of marked improve
ment in the character of the immigrants.
The Germans brought the largest amount of
money per capita, the Irish next and then
the English The least money and the
greatest degree of illiteracy was found
among the Italians and Austro-Hungarians,
but as far as the Italians are concerned
Comparatively few of the Woodworking pea
SAINTS Of the interior of Italy can read or
write. And those who come from the cites,
where better educational facilities are fur
niShed. are said to be the most dangerous
class.
The number of immigrants rejected dur
ing the last fiscal year was 1884, falling
off from S,769 during 1903. The largest
the next were diseased CISCO, the next
were contract laborers Q,50D The immi-
grafton inspectors also shut out sixteen
idiots, thirty-three insane persons, thirty
five convictS, nine women who were coming
in for immoral purposes and one anarchist
Contract Labor Law.
The contract labor law is very strictly en-
forced for the inspectors say that the in
genuity and persistence of those whose in
terests impel them to resort to foreign mar
kets for labor surpass belief and, notwith-
standing the watchfulness of the officers,
thousands of laborers are brought into this
country under contract every year. Hence
they cannot be too particular, and they ex-
clude even those who have come to this
country with assurances from their friends
that they can obtain employment. Many
people think that Is going rather too far.
The other day gentleman VINO mad IN
vestigated the subject wrote secretary Met
calf, complaining that great injustice is
being done to honest but ignorant people In
that respect. "a few of them might have
made arrangements to work for some people
in this country" he says, but l verify be-
Iieve that the majority of them had really
made no contract; but. not understanding
our language. and fearing to be remanded
If they stated that they had no .particu-
lar place where they could find employment,
they would admit that they expected to
10 to work at this or that place. Mr.. Will
liams called our attention particularly to
case oil an ltauan-d SIrOnS, vigorous
man-who was to be sent back because he
had shown a letter in which his cousin In
St. Louis informed him that If he would
come to this country he would find him en-
ployment at $50 per day. 1t would seem to
me that this was interpreting the law very
strictly indeed"
The Padrone System.
But the commissioner of immigration de-
clares that it is necessary to do SO, because
10
in this country for less than similar labor
ers here would charge for the same work,
and many more come in under 1.-The padrone
SYSTEM" which Is practically peonage or
slavery. Under this system the padrones,
or immigration agents, go about among the
peasants of Italy and contract with them
HAIR GROWTH