Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-11
ALIEN INFLUX
STEADILY CROWS
COMMISSION ON IMMIGRATION
MAKES REPORT
Mr.. Sargent Discusses the Problems
Presented by the Increasing
Stream Of Foreigners
to America
BY Associated Press.

/ BY Associated Press.
! WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.--In present
| ing the annual report of the bureau of
| immigration, Commissioner General
| Sargent refers to the magnitude and
gravity of tho problems presented by
the growth of the alien population in
the United states.
These problems" he declares. "loom
so largely In the prospect OF our coun-
try that 1t may be said without giving
just cause to the charge of exaggera-
ton, that all other questions of public
economy relating to things rather than
to human beings, shrink into compara-
tive insignificance."
The total alien arrivals reported for
the year of 1,026,499 represent an in
crease over the preceding year of 213,-
500, of which the continental ports of
the United states report 196,940, as COM
pared with arrivals there last year, and
the Canadian ports 1880 At the in-
sular ports the increase was 2S49, all
though the arrivals at Porto Rico were
less by % than in 1904. There also was
large increase in arrivals at southern
ports, while q decrease in shown for the
Pacific ports. which is accounted for
in some measure by the Russian-Japan-
ese War.
or the increased arrivals above re-
ferred to, Austria Hungary sent gS537
over its quota in 1904, Russia 80 9756
Italy 2S.1S3 and the United Kingdom
1854. This increase from the last men
toned country, says the commissioner,
is somewhat offset by the decreases
from Germany. Switzerland and
Sweden. notwithstanding the increase
from Italy, that country, says the COM
missioner, may be regarded as having
probably reached the high water mark
From this showing, Commissioner Sar-
gent ventures the prediction that the
chief sources of future increases in
immigration are those two in Europe
which have the greatest resources in
population, probably to dispense with
Russia and Austria Hungary.
with the facts in view," he says,
ut will be possible to calculate with
reasonable certainty on the character
of immigration in its greater bulk
for some years to come--at least in
European immigration"
Commissioner Sargent does not lose
sight of the increased number of i'm
migrants from European Turkey,
field which although practically mex
haustible. he says, is but virgin to
the activity of transportation agents.
Contract Labor Law
The importance of a proper under
standing of the contract labor law is
dwelt upon in the report. No feature
of the immigration law. he declares,
has proved SO difficult of enforcement
as that which was passed for the pro-
lection of labor in this country from
unfair competition by aliens. The
chief obstable in the way OF such en-
forcement he attributes TO the erron-
eous impression that it is a measure
wrung from congress against it's will
by the powers of organized labor ex-
acting all it could obtain. rather than
seeking simple justice. This impress
sion is so widely prevalent, he says,
that it produces at least an indiffer-
ence to the enforcement of the law, If
not a hostile bias against it, and cred
its the lawmaking branch of the gov
ernment with no worthier motive for
enacting it than selfish fear. Because
of such impression. he declares, the
bureau finds its efforts to enforce the
law either reluctantly submitted to or
resisted. actively or passively. and it.
self viewed rs in some sort a branch
or agency of organized labor, sensitive
to that bodys interest, responsive to
its wishes and thus essentially differ
ent from. other parts of the executive
government of the United States.
Perhaps labor itself'' he adds,
sis not altogether free from blame for
this false public impression, and thus
Unconsciously has played into the
hands of those interests which find it
to their account to ALLEVIATE public
sympathy by encouraging such a
view"