The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-05
DECREASE SHOWN
 IN IMMIGRATION
Standard However is Higher
 Than Heretofore
CRAVE PROBLEM PRESENTED
Commissioner Sargent Thinks Legisla- ton is Necessary to Provide for
 Proper Distribution of
 Aliens in the Country.


 Proper Distribution of
 Aliens in the Country.
 Washington December A-lmmigration to the United States decreased materially during the last fiscal year, and 1t is prob able the moral, intellectual and physical quality of the immigrants admitted to this country during the past year are higher than ever heretofore. These are two salient features of the annual report of Frank P. Sargent commissioner gem eral of immigration which was published today.
 The report says that during the past fiscal year, S12,S7O aliens arrived in the United States, of which 549,OoO were males and 263, ITO females, an increase in the females, as compared with last year. of 19,S70 and a decrease in the males of 64,O46. As respects age 109 15O were under fourteen years; 657, 155 were between IA and IS, and 46,565. were 45 or over. Of .-le total number admitted, 3,953 could read, but not write; ,903 could neither read nor write, and 1t is presumed that the remaining 640,054 could both read and write. It also appears that 1O3 75O of these aliens had already been to this country; 95,575 brought with them $50 or more each, and 5Ol,530 brought each less than $50. The total amount of money shown to officers by these S12,870 aliens was S2o,s9i,3S3, or s4 776,870 more than was brought by the S56,076 arrivals last year. This fact says the report, taken in connection with the countries from which the increases of the year under consideration, furnished assurances of marked improvement In the character and thrift of the more re- cent immigrants. The 2S, ,451 English im- migrants brought with them in the fiscal year, 1908, S1, 405, 365; this year the Al, 4is of the same race brought $2.736 182; the 35, 366 Irish last year had $79j,182 while the S7,076 Irish this year showed $l,092, 7Sl; ; 1,7s2 German immigrants last year had s2, 4s0, 694; this year "A passed In hand, $S, 622,675.
 Thousands Are Excluded.
 At the various seaports of the United States 1894 aliens were excluded during the year. 479S being paupers 1860 diseased; 1; S5 convicts, and 15O1 contract laborers.
 Tt Is interesting" says Commissioner Sargent's report, "as bearing on the in- creasing attempts on the part contractors in this country to eyade the alien con- tract labor law to note that despite the diminution of immigration there was an increase of 415 in the number rejected as alien contract laborers. This is a much larger number than ever before has been refused admission to the United States for this cause in any one fiscal year"
 Commissioner Sargent recommends, in order to prevent the entry of diseased persons, that the physical examination of aliens be conducted at the ports of authorization, by officers of the United States public health and marine hospital service. Commissioner Sargent says he Is impeled to direct attention to the fact that the effective operating cause of vio- lations and attempted violations of the allen contract labor law is the employer of such labor in this country. To put an end to such offenses. therefore, 1t Is nec- essary to successfully reach such employ CTS, and by sufficient punishment, more potent than the mere expulsion or de- portation of the alien induced by them to emigrate hither, to deter them from such practices.
 Persistently Violates Law.
 Concerning the persistence with which
  diseased aliens into the country, the com missioner says this feature of the admin istration has given the bureau more con cern than any other, both because of its importance as affecting the health. or even the life possibly of citizens of this country, and because of the apparent determination to bring aliens suffering with communicable diseases upon the chance of the latter being able to effect an entrance.
 That the law is being defied by some of the companies Is plain from the fact that 1860 alien passengers thus afflicted were denied admission during the year It Is but just to say that some of these cases did not reach the preceptible stage of development until after authorization But in most instances the agents of the com panies with amazing pertinacity ignored the law as shown by the fact that during the year there have been imposed upon them penalties under the act of March, 1903. amounting to $2s, 400.
 The commission reiterates the state ments he made in his last annual re- port regarding the public evils arising from the maintenance in this country of colonies of aliens who retain their alle- glance to their native country and for ward to those countries the greater part of their earnings The commissioner re- gards these colonies, which he says, are encouraged by people in other countries, unAmerican in principle and dangerous in practice.
 It Is pointed out that 44,9S5 aliens are supported by or confined in the charitable or penal institutions of this country, of whom 20, 4S5 are insane, while the crim- inals number 9S25.
 Comparatively little difficulty has been experienced during the year in the en- forcement of the Chinese exclusion, al- though about the usual number of cases have been handled.
 In reiterating his recommendation of last year Commissioner Sargent says:
 That paramount in importance to all other new legislation In regard to alien immigration the bureau considers some adequate measure for the distribution of aliens who are admitted to this country
 Converted Into Office Building.
 Florence. December 4-(Special) )-The old Florence hotel building on Court street has been purchased by the Flor