New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-11
IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS.
Report of Bureau Tells of Increase
IN 1ArTiUaIs,

Washington Dec 10-In presenting the annual
report OF the Bureau OF immigration, Commissioner
General Sargent refers to the magnitude and
gravity Of the problems presented by the growth Of
the alien population Of the United States These
problems he declares. loom largely in the
prospect Of country that 1t may be said, with
out giving just cause to charge exaggeration, that
all other questions Of public economy. relating to
things rather than to human beings. shrink into
comparative insignihcance"
In his annual message to Congress President
Roosevelt discussed the immigration question at
length. so that those features of Commissioner
Sargents report bearing the class of immigrants
desired. the inducements offered by transportation
companies to immigrants to come to America, laws
to be enacted, and the attitude toward the Chinese
have been substantially published
There are many details. however, given in the
port The total arrival OF aliens reported for the
year. 49, represents an increase over the preced-
ing year Of 2se29 OF this increase the continental
ports OF the United States report 1876 $40 and the
Canadian ports 1880. At the insular ports the in
crease was 2,S49. although the arrivals at Porto
Rico were less by 81 than in 1904. There also was
a large increase IN arrivals at Southern ports
while decrease is shown for the Pacific ports
which is accounted for In measure by the
Russo-Japanese War
OF the increased arrivals above referred to, Aus
tria-Hungary sent 9S537 over 1904; Russia, 80 1855;
Italy, &.1s3. and the United Kingdom, 1854 This
increase from the last mentioned country. says the
Commissioner. Is somewhat offset by the decreases
from Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. Notwfth-
standing the increase from Italy, that country,
says the Commissioner, may be regarded as having
probably reached the high water mark.
From this showing Commissioner Sargent vent
ureS the prediction that the chief Of future
increases in Immigration those two countries
in Europe which have the greatest surplus popu-
l lsl. probably. Russia and Hungary.
possible TO calculate with reasonable certainty
the character of immigration, its greater bulk,
LoF some years 10 come-at least OF European I'M
migration" Commissioner Sargent does not lose
sight OF the increased number Of immigrants from
tally inexha ustible he says IS but virgin to the
bctiVities OF the transportation agent
The Importance Of q proper understanding of the
contract labor law is dwelt upon IN the report
No feature Of the immigration law, he declares
was passed for the protection of labor in this
country from unfair competition by aliens. The
says. is the erroneous impression that it is
ure wrung from Congress against its will by the
obtain rather than seeking simple justice"
49, This impression is so widely prevalent he says.
that 1t produces at least an indifference to the
enforcement of the law not hostile bias against
it, and credits the laT-making branch of the gov
erQment with no worthier motive for enacting it
than selfish fear. Because of such impression, the
Dg[e9 mas us eoFts to enforce the law either
passively, and itself viewed in sort a
that bodys interest, responsive to its wishes and
thus essentially different from other parts of the
haps labor itseif he adds rs not efoeef5ar Fae
from blame for this false public impression, and
those interests which find it to their account to
ALLEVIATE public sympathy by encouraging such a
As an illustration he cites an occasion last year
when branch OF organized miners urged the
originally had been active in fixing the RESPONSE
oility for violation Of the law, should not be
mad reached settlement of their differences
6 GS5 5s Sargent remarks. however, that
40Aeo AIS sLtoFtS 10 make the law effective.