The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
IMMIGRATION HAS
 VASTLY INCREASED Commissioners Report Shows 106,698 More Than Last Year JAPANESE AT HAWAII DhUciraI and MoraI OuaIIfiae nf inoFai.
Physical and Moral Qualities of lmmi- grants Brought by Labor Agencies Much Below Former Standard.
 "White Slave" Traffic.

Washington, January 6.-The fiscal year ended June 90, 19o6 produced a record eclipsing all former figures on the sub ject of immigration, according to the an- nual report of Frank Sargent. the com missioner general of immigration. Dur ing that period the report says, the pop ulation of the United States was increased by the admission of 1100,735 immigrants. aliens and 65,61S other immigrants entered at its ports, making the total admission 1,166, ,353
 The increase over last years record of 1.059.755 QO26.4 499 aliens, plus S3,258 tran sients) was 106.69S. During the fiscal year 1905, H. 4SO aliens were rejected and dur ing the past year 12, 432 Of the immigrant aliens. that is those who intended settling in the United States there were 764, 463 males and 336, PIP females. The tendency of immigration during the past few years to gather it's steady increase principally from the countries of Southern Europe, Is re- ferred to-
 without exception,' the report says, "the countries from which we formerly ODldllltu lue kISdltl pellN OA OuA AOh S4oH population, and which are inhabited by races nearly akin to our own, supplied us with smaller number during the past year than during 1905-Ireland. 19,950; Swe- den, s2S1; Germany, S010; Denmark, 1929 and Scotland Ill less. On the other hand, the four most considerable gains are: Italy 51641; Russia, 30,7SS; Greece, S974, and Turkey Gin Europe and Asia), 5165
 The immigration from Austro- Hungary amounted to 265,19S; Italy including Sicily and Sardinia, 273.19O; Russian empire and Finland. 1865; China, 1544; Japan. 1885, and the West Indies, 13656.
 Steamships Practices.
 The immigration from southern and eastern Europe, the report says, is a re- laboring classes of those sections, which is encouraged or even fomented by the steamship agents securing the country for passengers, and the commission says more drastic measures are required to effect a dicontinuance of these steamship prac- tices That the physical and mental quali- ties of the immigrants we are now re- ceiving is much below that of those who have come in former years, he says, is evident. The North Atlantic and North Central states together received 90 per cent of the entire immigration of 1906; tho south per cent. As Tn previous years, the bulk of the immigrants were destined ayowedly to a few of the large centers of population, 374,70S claiming New York state, 19S,6Sl assertedly were going to Pennsylyania S6539 to Illinois and 73,- S63 to Massachusetts.
 The report refers to what the commits sioner believes to have been extensive schemes to secure foreign labor brought to light in the past year and now being investigated. The evidence is already at hand, the report says, to show that some individual or corporation is engaged in inn porting numbers of Japanese laborers to work on the railroads of the northwest.
 Japanese at Honolulu.
 These Japanese come to Hawaii, des- tined to Hotels" kept by labor agents, and claim that they are merely seeking labor that may be secured in the islands. They are admitted to the islands and after remaining few days or week there. they ship for northwestern Hawaiian ports Having been admitted to the Ha- waiian ports, their voyage is then coast wise" and they cannot be examined on arrival at the mainland ports unuer tnc alien labor contract or any other pro- visions of the immigration laws. Japanese immigration direct to San Francisco from Japan dropped during the year to very small figure. Accommodations at El- lis Island, according to the report. are entirely inadequate for the inspection work Various improvements are neded and an appropriation of $400,000 therefor Is urged. The Chinese exclusion law and the many difficulties attending its en- enforcement are discussed The commis- sioner recommends statloning officers in China to investigate and approve certifi- cates issued by the Chinese government to members of the exempt classes, such plan to supersede that of having the investigation made by United States con- sular officers.
 Coolies Struggled.
 Greatly improved conditions resulted from the Presidents orders of last spring instructing consular officers as to their duties concerning these certificates. The commissioner reports that Mexican bor- der Chinese coolies are constantly snug gled into this country from Mexico"
 The report shows that it cost the gov