The San Francisco call., 1907-01-07
STEADY INCREASE
IN IMMIGRATION
More Than a Million Aliens
Enter United States Dur
ing the Last Fiscal Year
LAWS NOT ADEQUATE

year ended June 80, 1906, produced a
record eclipsing all former figures on
the subject OF immigration, according
to the annual report OF Frank Sargent.
Commissioners General OF immigration.
During that period, the report says. the
population of the United States was in
creased by the admission of 1,100,735
immigrant aliens and 65.61s non-immi-
grant aliens, making the total admis-
sion 1,166,353. The increase over last
years record of 1,059,755 was 106,59S
During the fiscal year 1906 the de-
partment rejected 11,4S0-aliens and dur
ing the past year 12,432 of the frnmi-
grant aliens-that is, those who in
tended settling in the United States.
Without exception" the report says,
the countries from which we formerly
obtained the greater part of our for
eign population and which are inhabited
by races nearly akin to our own, have
supplied us with smaller numbers dur
ing the past year than during 1905.
Ireland, 1850; England, 1928; Swed-
en-. 1881; Germany, 3010; Denmark,
1929, and Scotland I'LL less. On the
other hand the four most considerable
gains are: italy. 51,641; Russia, S0,76s;
Greece. 1914. and Turkey, 5165."
LAWS BEING VIOLATED
The immi grafton from Austria Hun
gary amounted to 265.13s; Italy, includ-
ing Sicily and Sardinia, 273,1 ,120; Russia
and Finland, 215, 1865; China, 1914; Jap
an, 1885. and the West Indies. 1856.
The immigration from Southern and
Eastern Europe, the Commissioner says,
is a result of general unrest existing
among the laboring classes
That the physical and mental quail
ties of the aliens we are receiving is
mn 0f who have
come in former years. he says, is evil
dent.
The North Atlantic and North Central
States together received go per cent of
the entire immigration of 1905, the
South 4 per cent.
The report refers to what the Com
missioner believes to have been ex-
brought to light in the past year and
now being investigated. Evidence is
at hand. the report says, to show that
some individual or corporation is en-
gagged in importing numbers of Japan
ese laborers to work on the railroads
of the Northwest. These Japanese come
to Hawaii destined to hotels" kept by
labor agents and say that they are
merely seeking labor that may be Sc
cured on the islands. They are ad-
mitted to the islands and after remain
ing there a few days or weeks they
ship for northwestern mainland ports
Having been admitted at the Hawaiian
ports their voyage thence is "coastwise'
and they cannot be examined on ar
rival at the mainland ports under the
alien labor contract or any other pro-
vision of the immigration laws. Jap
anese immigration direct to San Fran
cisco from Japan dropped during the
year to very small figures. doubtless,
the report says, from causes similar
to those Just referred to.
SHOULD AMEND THE LAWS
The Immigration Commissioner at
San Francisco reports that Japanese
have been arriving there coastwise
from Honolulu and from Canadian
ports at the rate of 1000 to 5000 per
month The report says:
'That many laborers have been i'm
ported under this evasion of the law
is not doubted"
Accommodations at Ellis Island, ac-
cording to the report, are entirely in
adequate for the inspection work
The Chinese exclusion law and the
main difficulties attending its enforce
ment are discussed. The Commissioner
recommends stationing officers to in
vestigate and approve certificates is
sued by the Chinese Government to the
exempt class, such plan to supercede
that of having the investigation made
Greatly improved conditions resulted
from the Presidents order of last
spring instructing consular officers as
to their duties concerning these certif-
Gates. Various methods are pointed out
in the report by which the Chinese
seek to enter the country in violation
of the law under the guise of
domiciled merchants, etc Com
plete and detailed registration OF
all Chinese in the United States Is
again recommended. Any Chinese Ia
borer found in the United States year
after the registration act. who has not
a residence certificate and is found to
be unlawfully here, should, the report
says. be deported.
CHINESE CROSS THE BORDER
The Commissioner reports that on
the Mexican border Chinese coolies are
constantly being smuggled into this
country from Mexico.
Other recommendations are designed
i to prevent the admission of Chinese
minor children. and attaching severe
penalties for permitting Chinese sea-
/ men to land. The Commissioner again
recommends increasing the penalties
on steamship companies for bringing
aliens afflicted with dangerous and
loathsome diseases. The President s
suggestion for closing the Mexican
border to all aliens except citizens OF
Mexico is also urged.
During the early part of the year, the
report says, the white slave traffic
was extensively revived. Many of the
girls and women imported for immoral
purposes were brought through Mex
leo and secured a right to citizenship
by marriage with Chinese born in this
country