Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-11
CONTRACT LABOR LAWS
MORE STRINGENT MEASURES ARE
URGENTLY NEEDED.
Also Better Method of Certifyine to
the Right of Chinese to
Enter.

More stringent contract labor laws and a
better method of certifying to the right
or Chinese to enter this country are two Of
the most important recommendations made
IN the annual report of Mr.. Frank p Sar-
gent commissioner general of immigration.
winch is made public today. Mr.. Sargent
also wants some laws that will effectively
chech the Tide OF immigration of all classes
tl4"' 'He country may avoid an unwelcome
oestihF- lie asks that the steamship COM
pa4leS uollIs business abroad be compelled
to adhere more closely to the laws wb,ct
prohibit the holding out of inducements for
immigration. Thanks are extended To sew
era! southern railroads for their efforts +o
divert the tide Of immigration soutbward
MI Sargent also asks that the law which
abolished the levying Of the 81 head tax on
foreigners coming to this country famine
rarily be repealed. With reference to the
Chinese problem the report is Of particular
interest. Mr.. Sargent SAYS;
me experience of another year while
~ mas Drought gratifying confirmation of
the confidence heretofore expressed in the
einclency of existing administrative meas
ures ana agencies, has also served to es-
taDHsh stronger conviction of the magni-
tuue ana gravity OF the problems presented
by the growth OF our alien population
These problems loom SO largely in the pros
pect OF our country that it NAV be said
without giving just cause to charge exag-
geratlon, that all other questions OF public
economy, relating to things rather than To
human beings, shrink into comparative in
significance.
Chinese Exclusion.
In no branch of It's widespread activities
does the bureau believe that II has So thor
oughly succeeded in carrying into effective
operation the purpose of the laws COM
mitted to Its charge as in the exclusion of
chinese of the classes which 1t is the pro-
fessed desire of both this government and
the empire of China to keep out Of the
United States. AS pointed out in former
reports, there are many and serious ohsta-
cles, both in the circumstances to be dealt
with by administrative officers and In the
opposition of many citizens of this country
TO the policy of selecting the Chinese alone
as subjects for exclusion, that exact of the
bureau a degree of vigilance and resource
fulness unexampled, 1T is believed, in the
administration of any other legislation on
the statute books
There is no Chinese steerage pas
senger so destitute that money prac-
ttcally without limit Is not available
10 pay for his entrance. He can command
legal advice of the most expensive coun-
selors; he can secure witnesses to testify
10 anything; he can tempt smugglers by
payment of large sums of money; he can
carry his case through all the tribunals up
His youth, his obvious Ignorance. his
equally conspicuous poverty, his lack of
friends or relatives known to him In this
country, his lack of knowledge even Of the
occupation to which he will apply himself
II landed-all combined do not deprive him
OF the benefit Of ample funds from some
source, to secure his admission in some way
II possible 1t Is not unsafe to saw that
moro money has been expended by the few
Chinese immigrants during the past wear.
sggregating a little less than 2.OOo-than
py the 1,o24,0OO other aliens, in attempting
to secure admission after arrival at our
ports.
Mr.. Sargent says that 1,o28, 400 immi-
grants were admitted to this country dur
ing the last fiscal year, and that they
brought in with them aggregate Of s25-
1902. or more than 81 600, 600 in excess OF
the amount brought in during the previous
fiscal year.
Contract Labor Laws.
With reference to the contract labor laws
Mr.. Sargent says:
''Of the various features of the immigra-
ton law none has proved so difficult of
enforcement as that which was passed for
the protection or labor in this country from
unfair competition by aliens This fact IL
due TO causes that have been adverted to
in former reports of the bureau but close
observation convinces me that the chief
obstacles is the erroneous impression that
1t is measure wrung from Congress-
against Its will by the power OF organized
labor, exacting all it could obtain rather
than seeking simple justice. This impress
sion, which is widely prevalent and pro-
duces. If not a hostile bias against the
law, at least an indifference to its enforce
ment, does not credit the lawmaking
branch OF the government with any
worthier motive for enacting the contract
labor law than selfish fear.
Inducements for Immigration.
In condemning the offering of inducements
TO- immigraton-the report says:
1T is impossible that such an influx as
this can fail to produce material effects
upon the institutions of this country, as It
is doing upon the population. What such
effects will probably be In the long run, 1t
Is not within the proper scope OF this report
to discuss; but attention Is drawn to the
subject TO show that II 1t is the public de-
sire to establish some reasonable limitation
on immigration, some restriction that will
ma terially lessen the volume of the current
until, by actual experience assurance is Sc
cured of the safety of the institutions of
the country under such an unexampled
strain, II Is time TO make a new departure
in legislating upon alien immigration.
What such restrictions should be must
be left TO the wisdom OF Congress; but IT is
not the design of this report, in pointing out
this course, TO place the bureau on record
as holding hostile views to the transporta-
ton lines or as advocating any further re-
straints upon their business than Will suf-
flee to protect the United States from an
energy that knows no rest and singleness
OF purpose which considers no results ex-
cept those of a financial nature"
Continuing. the report says:
Again, 1t is urged that Congress provide
means for distributing arriving aliens who
now congregate in the large cities. The
reasons for this recommendation have al
ready been fully stated in former reports