New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-30
n INSPECT IMMIGRANTS.
Medical Examination at Ports OF
Embarkation Proposed.
tvpou THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

.,,s.on. Jan 2s.-Medical inspection by Ma
" --,snital surgeons is 10 be made OF all lfhihi-
f'no dsstined for this country under the super
stsl :, the United States consul at the port OF
NisloH -, The Senate Committee on Immigra-
en- a. to-day's meeting unanimously determined
bO- o-+ the Lodge bill restoring the consular IN
!" -, Of ulanifests favorably after so amending
- % nroytde for the detail of a surgeon ana an
h,--stion inspector to act under the direction OF
-, consul at each OF the leading ports OF eHiDaiAS
-, IN Europe and the Orient.
~ - commissioner General Of immigration rec
snded this strengthening Of the law In MS
- annual report. and his Recommendation re-
- the cordial Endorsement Of the Secretary OF
C-,roerce and Labor. In his report MI. sargent
- 80 that last year eight thousand immigrants
-. Wrought to American shores and on ARRIVAL
W. :. ba rejected. their rejection being largely
L. % infectious diseases. He pointed out that
..,.bv immigrants had necessarily been Drought
- the closest contact with the persons anec'eo
- she voyage thar the period or mcupauoh WAS
-. long 20 permit the detention Of the persons so
s.ted on their arrival in this country and that
,r,s doubtless accounted for the prevalence OF
.cboroa favus and similar maladies TO an alarm
,,g degree in this country. II is noteworthy IAat
oomuaratively recent inspection OF schooI chliuTeh
,n NeW-York and Brooklyn revealed in round num-
hers twenty-five thousand cases of uachoma IN
She former city and fifteen thousand in the latter
further important consideration which Ied 10
ths commissioners recommendation was the posi-
tuty OF thus avoiding the hardships which, under
sxistng conditions the law forbdding the entry OF
persons suffering from contagious diseases Fenoers
Inevitable Immigration officials are too frequently
compelled to separate members Of a family by the
discovery of some contagious disease on the arTi-
val of immigrants in this country Where such In
lection is discovered the law leaves alternative
and the infected person must be returned regard
less Of the hardship inflicted. Even where there
no severance family ties the entire capital Of the
Individual is frequently absorbed in the TWO trips
scrogs the ocean and he or she. after converting
ali of his or her available wealth into cash and
sailing for this country is returned TO be landed
Al The port of embarkation pennlleSs Ihese a. . q
Few of the evils which will be avoided by the
which, 1t Is believed, VIII become .
part the immigration law at me present sessIOi
OF Congress. -, -
eral immigration laws ar the last session OF Con
rress provision made for the submission OF
each Immigrant ships manifest to the inspector
al the port OF entry, but the provision which re-
CURED consular acknowledgment OF the manlIes'
AT the port of embarkation was inadvertently
dropped. The Lodge BILL introduced this year
restores the obligation requiring captains OF I'm
migrant vessels secure such acknowledgment
and, by the unanimous wish OF the committee, lh'
Commissioner General OF Immigration has beer
requested TO draft an amendment employing m
above provisions. TO be fayoraby reported with th
Lodge bill.
II is expected that marine hospital surgeons ant
immigration inspectors will be assigned to tn
consuiates at Southampton. Liverpool, plymouth
Eayre. Hamburg, Antwerp, Naples. Genoa, sew
mutual agreement with the Pacific steamship com
panies, marine hospital surgeons are now inspect
Ing immigrants sailing for this country, and i
November and December forty-seVen cases
trachOma, Of favus and one OF ophthaIml
were detected and passage was refused TO IN
persons suffering from them.