Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-06-27
turn back those who were clearly
excluded by our laws at the time of

exciuueu Dy our laws at Inc time oi
embarking. In order to make it tc
the pecuniary interest of those for
eign corporations to conduct such an
inspection, he offered an amendment
fning the steamship companies twice
the amount of all moneys received
from an immigrant in the case of
every immigrant they brought to this
country that was excluded, where the
ground for exclusion could have been
really ascertsined at the time of
foreign embarkation by medical or
other competent examination.
In support of his amendment, Sem
ator Latimer showed on the floor of
the Senate, May 23d, circular issued
by one of The steamship companies
instructing their pu, ,ers to receive
on board and bring to this country in
violation of our laws dangerously
oontagionsly diseased person if the
person deposited with the purser
sufficient funds to pay the fine and
expenses of deportation in case of
objection by our immigrant in
spectors. Although the Senator's
amendment was not adopted in full,
the bill incorporates in Sections 10
and part of the amendment and
forbids the steamship companies TO
accept any indemnity or deposit to
cover fines or expenses of deporta-
tion and imposes upon steamship
companies fine of one hundred dol
lars for bringing to this country the
following classes excluded by Section
dangerous or contagiously dis
eased aliens, idiots, feeble minded and
insane persons and epileptics, pro-
vided the existence of such disease or
condition might have been detected
by means of a competent medical ex-
animation by the steamship officials
at the point of embarkation. 1t is
difficult to understand, as Senator
Latimer pointed out on the floor of
the Senate, why this principle of
fine should not be extended to all the
classes of Objectionable immigrants
brought here contrary to Section 2.
Such provision would make the
foreign steamship companies live up
to our laws and save many an alien
forlorn voyage across the ocean.
Last year thousands of poor unfor-
tunates were inveigled by the steam
ship companies merely for the sake
of the passage money into making
the trip only to be denied entrance
and deported. Since foreign govern
ments will not allow our officials to
inspect on the other side, and since
slight examination on the part of
steamship official would prevent the
heartrending scenes of deportation,
and would result in turning back
thousands of defcients and depend.
ents who run the gauntlet of our in.
spection, escape detection and gain
access to this country by some crook
or appeal to Washington, it does
seem that the amendment in it's en-.
tirety ought to have been adopted.
These are not the only Senators
who are with us in our efforts to
secure needed immigration legisla-
tion, but these are the men who have
manned the guns, done the commit
tee work, made the speeches and
managed and secured the passage of
this the best piece of immigration
legislation ever considered by Con-
gress. Their names deserve to 90
down in the history of this country
and should be revered by all good
patriotic citizens. Juniors of South
Carolina, do not forget Senator Lati-
mer for the able and effective work
which he has done on the Senate I'm.
migration Committee and on the
floor of the Senate in behalf of our
country, its welfare and it's citizen
ship; Juniors of North Carolina, do
not forget Senator Simmons; Juniors
of Kentucky, do not forget Senator
McCreary Juniors of Massachusetts,
do NOT fornet Senatnr Indna and