The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-02
TO CONSIDER BILL
ON IMMIGRATION
Joint Committees Will
Meet Again Tonight.
~
PLANNED YESTERDAY
Bill of Senator Moore, Providing For
the Establishment OF Depart
ment Of immigration and
a Commission
PLANNED YESTERDAY

The Senate and House Committees
meeting yesterday afternoon to con-
slider the immigration bill of Senator
Moore At six O'Clock the bilf had not
been disposed OF and the joint commit
Tee viii meet again tonight.
Mr.. Eller. Chairman of the Senate
Committee, presided.
MT Moore, author of the bill first
spoke. and stated that he introduced
the bill simply to produce the indus
trial interests of North Carolina ana
that from the % counties of the State.
~ of them reported last year a scar
city of labor. This was not the bill,
Mr.. Mason stated. that he originally
intended to introduce, as his first in
tenuOn had been to have simply q
Secretary of immigration under the
Commissioner of Agriculture. but after
conferilng with Commissioner Patter-
son and others. he decided to prepare
a different bill. He submitted the
present bill to the Governor and ne
approved it. The bill provides for the
salary of 81 500 for the commissioner
salar,, for his clerk. and $4,000 for
the expenses of the department The
commissioner must submit annually to
the Governor setting forth his work,
ports on the industrial and a2ricul-
tural interests OF the State, SO as to
invite and induce immigrants TO come
to this State. Mr.. Moore said the
principal object of the bill is to secure
homo seekers. as in Eastern North
Carolina there are thousands of acres
of land that have no people 10 till
them. The bill does not intend for the
bringing into this State of the scum J
the cities of this and European coun-
tries. but desirable settlers. The bill
authorizes the publishing of Eamph-
lets setting forth counties and town
ships and lands. With names of parties
where immigrants are desired. The
department shall also make arrange
ments with railroad and steamship
companies for transportation of i'm
migrants.
Mr.. Moore said he wanted the pur-
port of the bin to promote the indus
trial interests of the State solely. In
his section of the State thousands of
acres of land are empt which are
desired to be settled up by honest.
hard toillng, home seekers.
Mr.. - said he would
favor the original bill to the present
one.
Mr.. Moore reiterated his explana-
ton, set forth in the above paragraph.
Mr.. Mccoy. the agricultural and
immigrant agent of the Atlantic Coast
Line Railroad by special invitation,
was present, and spoke in favor Of the
bill.
Mr.. Mccoy sal the bill was of great
interest TO every railway and other in
dustry in North Carolina. There is 4
tremendous land able to produce in
this State, that is available and only
wants men to work it. No State offers
greater possibilities to honest home
seekers than North Carolina. 1t pos
sesses every climate and any crop may
be grown here. In other states land
values are high, and in many. states
the rentals are HIGHER than the prop
ertv value in this State. and if this
department is provided for a large
number of these good farmers Will be
induced to settle in this State. North
Carolina wants class Of farmers that
are of small means, who are willing
to work, for this class of people build
up a State. We do not want the I'M
desirable element of foreigners. and
the object of this bill does not invite
them here. 1t would bring hundreds
of good Americans here from both
North and West for those sections
know nothing of the South. and think
the only thing that can be cultivated
here is cotton. The labor problem is