New-York tribune., 1904-08-13
REVISION OF IMMIGRATION LAWS.
The Necessity for Some Changes Indicated
by Recent Statistics.
lFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.

Washington, Aug. I2-The desirabiity Of some
restriction the immigration TO this country Will
be strikingly demonstrated by the figures con-
tained in the Forthcoming annual report Of the
Bureau Of Immigration For the first time an
interesting Investigation has been made Of the
number Of alien inmates OF penal and reformatory
institutions OF the country. Although the figures
are not yet complete. IL is already evident that
more than twenty thousand persons who owe al
legiance TO OLD World sovereigns are now being
housed. clothed and fed by the taxpayers OF the
United States.
In round numbers 15.OoO insane aliens are now in
asyluns- II is further found that by far larg-
est proportion OF unnaturalized insane are Irish BY
birth. although the proportion of criminal Irish
very small
About five thousand aliens are in penitentiaries
Workhouses and reformatory institutions and a
large proportion Of this class comes from Italy
The startling fact has been developed that no less
than 80 cent Of all the murderers now confined
IN jsls and prisons in NewYork State are Italians
MOST OF the Italians who reach this country stop
In New-YOrk City the immediate ueighborhood.
In Pennsylvania, whers the proportion Of Italians
received is not large It was found that Italians
constituted % per cent OF the murderers awaiting
trial OF under sentences Of death or imprisonment
Ihese Facts would make It appear that Italy is now
sending to this country the dregs Of her society
IL IS remarked by iummigration officials that the
class Of immigrants coming here has materially
changed within the last few years. Formerly
passage was more expensive, and It required
Industry and moral Stamina acquire the neces.
sary funds and make the journey Then men and
women OF the sturdy nioneer type came TO this
country. and almost Immediately became good
citizens. To-day the competition between the
steamship companies has resulted in offering
Unusual inducements 10 immigrants. Foreign gov
moting emsrso3 ao0 2Fe o me or 9ss 92scty pro-
IN their oVercroWded districts. The result is OF
course 20 oveEcroUd the cities, the price Of
!aoor by oYersupplying the market and croWdiag
every avocation. and to tend constantly TO lower
the standard OF living Of the American workman
by bringing him into competition. in the mines and
on the railroads. with the same class Of labor
from competition with which the Republican partv
has always sought to shield him by q protective
tariff
An attempt was made 10 legislate against the
almost indiscrimnate admission Of illterate able
pooled infnl grants by Representative Shattuc. a
ferner member OF Congress from Ohio. and SEN
ator Lodge has long worked to that end. bur in
every instance the influence Of the employers
OF unskllled labor. who wish the market to be
oyerGEowded so that they can command ample
supply at their own terms. has proved too power
ful 10 permit any remedial legislation.
It IS not improbable that Secretary Metcalf will
feel called upon 70 lay particular stress on the
results OF the investigation above referred to- and
IL is possible that he will make IL the basis for
some recommendations looking to the restriction
Of the undesirable class Of immigrants now com
ing particularly from Southern and Southwestern
EuTOpe.