The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-06
IMMIGRATION FACTS
SOME THAT CONGRESSMAN
LEARNED WHILE ABROAD.
Find That There Is Strong Prejudice
Against Furnishing More La
borers to the United States.

NEW YORK. Sept. 6.-After a several
months tour Of inquiry into the lmmigra-
tlon situation abroad the members of the
subcommittee OF the United States Immi-
grafton Commission. with Senator William
+. Dillingham;. of Vermont, as chairman.
arrived here today on board the White
star steamship Cedric. Some OF the mem
pers or the commission are still in Europe
completing their Investigations.
The members returning TODAY were Sena-
Tor Dillingham;, Senator Iatimer. of South
Carolina; Representatives Howell, of New
Jersey, and Burnett. Of Alabama, and Sec
rotary Morton E.. Crane. The members
nave obtained much data which they be-
lieve will aid in solving many of the immi-
grafton problems now confronting the
United States The whole committee will
meet later and prepare a report and recon-
menoations which will be submitted to
Congress.
Senator Dillingham; made the following
statement today on the Investigation of
immigration conditions abroad:
The subcommittee has visited every
European country from which we receive
any considerable number of immigrants.
and has studied the more important phases
OF the question in each. Italy was the
first country visited and after visiting
southern provinces the subcommittee was
ANAtN oCnutOl lAdtiIltT anu 1ltDTeSenId-
tves Howell and Burnett took charge of
the investigation In northern Italy, Switz-
erland. France, Germany, the Netherlands,
Belgium. Scotland and Ireland. Represen-
tative Bennett proceeded to Greece, Tur-
key. Syria. Asia Minor. Palestine and Rou-
mania, while Commissioner Wheeler and
myself gave attention to the work in Aus
tria. Hungary. Russia and England. Sem
tor Latimer, Mr.. Howell and Mr.. Bennett
also visited various Russian points and
Commissioner Wheeler spent some time
in Sweden and Denmark. Mr.. Wheeler is
now In England engaged in some special
features of the work there and on the con-
tinent.
In conducting their Investigations
abroad the commissioners gave special at
tention to the methods employed by the
transportation companies in handling emf
grants, the effect of the United States
immigration laws upon European emigra-
ton and the attitude of the various coun-
tries toward the departure of their SUBJ
jects to other lands. The question of pre-
venting the coming of criminal classes into
the United States has been a chief subject
of investigation by the subcommittee, and
1t Is probable that important recommends
tons on this matter will be made to Con-
gress.
I'm most of the countries visited the at
titude toward emigration is not favorable.
L constant and long continued drain
upon the rural population. from which
class the great majority of emigrants
come. and the general prosperity which
now prevails. have produced a scarcity of
farm labor. and 1t is lained the agricul-
tural industry is suffering in consequence
Because of this scarcity of labor the con-
ditlon of those remaining at home has to
a degree been improved, but the general
condition Is causing much alarm among
land owners. A very large proportion Of
male emigrants leave their native cou7-
tries at a time when thew are liable to
military service there, and this constitutes
another strong objection.
THE chief causes of emigration from Eu-
rope are: A widespread belief that labor is
more generously rewarded In America than
at home, the advice and financial assist
ance of relatives and friends who have
already ~emigrated, and the persistent ac-
tivity of agents selling steamship tickets
who are to be found all over Europe, de-
spite the fact that soliciting emigration IS
prohibited by the law in nearly every Eu-
ropean country and by our own immigra-
ton laws"