New-York tribune., 1905-01-20
IMMIGRATION IN 1g03-04.

The report of the Commissioner of Inlmigra-
ton for the fiscal year 10000, just issued,
exhibits the working of our immigration in
spectiOn system under the changed conditions
created by the act of Congress Of March 3,
1903. That legislation seems TO have thorough
Iy justified itself. According TO the showing
made by Commissioner General Sargent the
flood Of immigration has not been materially
checked by the safeguards enacted. But the
quality Of the material offered US for citI-
zenship has been distinctly bettered, and the
dumping" of paupers, detectives and dereIicts
generally has been effectively blocked. In last
years report Mr.. Sargent expressed some rather
pessmistic views on the immigration problem.
This year he writes more Opumistically, for he
cheerfuly admits that in the more recent in
flow of immigration there has been "a marked
improvement in character and thrift"
The year 1903lO4 showed a moderate de-
crease in the total of admissions. In 1902-03
S57, ,046 immigrants were landed But last year
only S12S70 applicants passed muster under
the new law. The volume of immigration from
Italy and Sicily fell off most. The decrease
from the kingdom Of Italy was 37326-nearly
equal TO the years total decrease. From Aus
tria Hungary there was a falling of in ar
rivals Of 2S,S55. Italy and Austra-Hungary
last year contributed 1876 733 immigrants-0r
over half the total For 190304 they contrib
uted $40, 0,452-or a little over 40 per cent. Ar
rivals from Russia and Finland show a slight
increase-145,141 this year, against 136,093 last
year. For some reason by no means evident
the movement Of immigration from Sweden
has been sensibly checked. Only 81, 763 Swedes
came here in 1903-04, against 4602S in 1902-O3.
immigration from England increased about 80
per cent-from 26,219 TO 3S626. From Scot
land and France there were slight gains while
from Japan, Rumania and Greece arrivals were
fewer. This greater distribution Of the vol
ume of immigration is considered by Mr. Sar-
gent a hopeful sign, for smaller accesslons
from various nationalities are far more easily
assimilated than great masses from one or two
particular countries. Moreover, it has been
found through experience that newcomers from
Italy and Austria Hungary are especially ad-
dicted TO colony life, and cannot be as readily
dispersed as other races from the chief centres
OF population.
Another excellent effect of the new law is to
be noted. Immigrants admitted now bring more
ready money with them and are far less like
ly 10 become public charges. The So, ,O46 ar
irving in 1902-'O3 had SIG, 6,117513. The SI2,-
SO who came in in 19O3-'04 had 500 S94. 1888
This gain of 80 per cent in ready cash, while
the volume of immigration decreased per
cent, testfes plainly to the greater desirabIlity
Of the newer comers The applicants debarred
from landing and deported numbered 1894 in
190304 against S.769 in 1902-O3. The newer
and more stringent admission tests OF recent
years have had a notable effect Since 1892
when the regulation of immigration was first
mpted-47, ,76S detectives and contract labor
ers have been debarred. Only 16763-or over
80 per cent-have been debarred In the last two
years.
Mr. Sargent still holds that the great prob
lem 10 be met In dealing with alien applicants
for citizenship is the stagnation of this inflow
in n few centres of population. From this
stagnation come the abuses Of foreign colony"
life, the "padrOne" system. the maintenance
OF reign OF terror through secret societies. and
a general retardation OF the processes of as
similation and education. If immigrants could
be barred from the seaports and dispersed
through the interior, Mr.. Sargent thinks, the
task Of fitting them for useful citizenship would