The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-12-27
WATSON RIGHT.
Violated No Law in Bringing Ion.
migrants. on Wittekind.
OPINION RENDERED.

son Had a Right to Help
immigrants Come TO
This State.
An Important eeoisicn has beer
rendered by Secretary Streus, OF the
Department. Caa Commerce and Labor
as to the right CT G Safe to induce
immigration to that State, Tho de-
! clsian holds In brief thst in the cir
cumHGaDcas there is no violation OF
tine immigration laws or u the law tc
p7ohibit tho importstions Of alien
contract laborers in the action Of the
State of Soute Carolina, in this par
ticulsr case, In encouraging immigra'
tion to that State or in paying the
necessary expenses Of the immt tgrantt
in coming to the State.
The case on which the decision Ii
based originated in South Carolina
For some time past the agriculture
and manufacturing industries o1
South Carolina have been retarded
and were in danger Of material injury
on account Of the lack Of labor. lr
order to relieve this condition Of az
fairs the Legislature Of South Osro
| lima passsd an act creating Q State
Department of Agriculture, Com
merae and Immigration.
E. J. Watson was appointed COM
missioner OF the Department. HI
was empowered by the act to make
such arrangements with steamship
companies and the immigration aGen'
cisS In Ghis country snd abroad aE
would serve best the interests of sue
cessful immigration, the necessary ez'
uenditure being made from an appro.
priaticn pro ided for the purpose.
! The act authorized the commissioner
to accept contributions from such citi'
zsns Of the State as might wish to as'
sist In bringing suoh citiE9ns OF the
State Is might wish to assist in b1iDg
ing desirable immigrants to South
Carolina.
On November 4, 1905. the steam
ship Wittekind arrived from Bremen
at this port OF Charleston, s O., haV'
ing IN board about Ats aliens dsstEn-
ed to various points in tho State oj
South Carolina. About 800 Of thess
alters we're induce to migrate to the
United States Dy the State Of South
Carolina, the State acting through
the medium Of its Commission OF sg
riculturs, Commerce and Imnligfa
tion. who went to Europe some time
In August for the purpose OF inducing
desirable immigrants to CONT to the
State, the passage money Of the aliens
vas paid by tho State ffom fund
part Of which was appointed by the
State, and the balance being contrib
uted by various corporations cnd in
ldivlduals. This fund was expended
solely at the discretion Of the State
and in 90 doing exercised his OWE
Judgment as to the person to whom
and the locations to which the ssvera.
aliens should be cent. The aliens
were free to acoept or refuse any Of
fers of employment made to them.
The facts In this case 0ero broug II
to the attention of the Secretary ol
Commerce and Labor BY the tmmi-
grafton officers at the port Of Char
lesion; 8. O., and he in return refer
|r & the matter to tho solicitor Of The
department for bis opinion as tt
whether or not tho action Of the com
missioner of immigration Of South
Carolina in bringing these aliens tt
the United States violation Of Ghs
alien 90 tract labor Laws The immi
grafton service was duly notified Of
the expected arrival Of the immi
grants in question and the right OIL
such alien: to land was left to the de-
termination of the officers admins
tering the Federal immigration laws
The question Of the right of "a Stats
under the national immigration wal
raised by the officials Of another
Southern State. 1t was referred tr
the Department of Commerce and La
bor. Rssllzing it's Importance Score
tary Metcalf referyed the legal quea
tion involved to Solicitor Earle, Of
the department.. for an opinion. Mr.
Earle considered very carefully thu
facls of the case in connection witt
the statutes bearing upon it and az
rived finally at the conclusion thai
there had been no violation Of the no
tionsl law by the authorities Of South
Carolina. The opinion OF Solicitor
Earle goes fully into discussion O.
the lawre psoting Immigration. HI
finds that $50 far as the prohibition
against assisting the importation o.
miglat!on OF foreign laborers b!
promise of employment through ad
vertissments abroad is concerned
States and Territories are eTprsssl.
excepted from the operation Of tn
ISw."
He says, further: "By the term
of the provision, States and Tercitor
les may offer Inducements or max
premises to foreign lsborers by ad
I-..L3,....r& ,,,;r&oS ond r,,,b1ioboS 4,