The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-05
NOT SO MANY
FROM ABROAD
IMMIGRATION WAS REDUCED.
QUALIFICATION OF THE ALIENS
SHOWED IMPROVEMENT.

S12.S7O Immigrants Arrived in the
United States During the Last Fis-
cal Year-EducatiOnaI, Physical
and Moral Qualifications Better.
More Immigration Legislation
Recommended by the Commission
er-ShOuId Be n Distribution Plan.
Washington, Dec. 4.-Immigration to
the United States decreased materially
during the last fiscal year, and it is
a notable fact that the moral, intel
lectual and physical qualifications of
the immigrants admitted to this coun-
try during the past year are higher
than ever heretofore have been chron-
icled. These are two salient features
of the annual report of Frank P. Sar-
gent, commissioner general of immi-
grafton, which was made public to-
day.
The report says that during the past
fiscal year S12,S70 aliens arrived in the
United States. of whom 549,100 were
males and 263.770 females, an increase
in the females as compared with last
year of 1880, and a decrease in the
males of 64,046. AS respects age, 1O9,-
$50 were under IA years, ,155 were
between IA and As, and 1865 were As
or over.
As to Education.
OF the total number of admitted i'm
migrants, 1858 could read but not
write, 16S,9O3 could neither read nor
write and it is presumed the remain
der, 64O.O14 could both read and
write. 1t also appears that 103, $50
of these aliens had already been to
this country; 95,575 brought with them
$50 or more each, and 501, $50 brought
each less than $50. The total amount
of money shown to officers by these
S1287O aliens was $20,S94, 1888, or 81
776,870 more than was brought by the
S57,O46 arrivals of the last year. This
fact, says the report, taken in con-
nection with the countries from which
the increase of the year under consid-
Grafton came, furnishes assurance of
a marked improvement in the charac-
ter and thrift of the more recent i'm
migration.
At the various seaports of the Unit
ed States 1884 aliens were excluded
during the year, 4,79S being paupers,
1860 diseased. 80 convicts, and 1901
contract laborers.
The report strongly recommends
legislation to make the contract la
Dor law more effective and bringing
about vigorous prosecution of en-
ployers of labor who abet violation of
the law. 1t is urged that physical
examination of aliens should be con-
Quoted abroad at the ports of embark
alton for this country.
1t is noted in the report that more
than half of the total immigration, or
421,S44. was supplied by the Italian,
Polish, Slovak and Magyar races,
though immigration of these races
decreased during the year.
Should BE no Alien Colonies.
The commissioner reiterates the
statements he made in his last an
nual report regarding the public evils
arising from the maintenance in this
country of colonies of aliens, who re-
tain their allegiance to their native
countries and forward to those coun-
tries the greater part of their earn
ings. The commissioner regards these
colonies, which he says, are encouraged
by people in other countries, as un-
American in principle and dangerous
in practice.
1t is pointed out that 1895 aliens
are supported by. or confined in the
charitable or penal institutions of this
country of whom 20,4S5 are insane,
while the criminals number 9,S25.
In reiterating his recommendations of
last year, Commissioner Sargent says
that paramount in Importance to all
other new legislation in regard to
alien immigration, the bureau consid-
ers some adequate measure for the dis
tribution of aliens. who are admitted
to this country