Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-09
EXPERTS ON ALIENS
REACH NEW YORK
GOVERNMENTS IMMIGRATION
STUDENTS RETURN
Senator Dillingham; Tells What They
Have Been DoIna-consIderabIe
II Hostility Found In Some
Foreign Countries

NEW YORK, Oct. s-After tour OF
inquiry into the immigration situation
abroad, including trips throughe England
and Continental Europe majority Of the
members of the subcommittee of the
United States immigration commission,
Vermont. as chairman, arrived here to-
day on the White Star steamship Cedric.
Some of the members are still in Europe
completing their Investigations.
Those who returned were Senator Dill
lingham, Senator Asbury G. Latimer of
NSouth Carolina, Representatives William
S. Bennett of New York, Benjamin +.
Howell of New Jersey, and John l.. Bur-
nett of Alabama and Morton E. Crane,
the secretary. The members have OBJ
tanned much data which they believe will
aid in solving immigration problems now
confronting the United States. The whole
body will meet later and prepare a re-
port and recommendations, which will be
submitted to congress. Mr.. Dillingham;
said:
'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 land visited, and after pursuing
Investigations in the southern provinces,
the subcommittee was aivided. Senator
Latimer and Representative Howell and
Burnett took charge Of the investigation
in northern Italy, Switzerland, France,
Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scot
land and Ireland Representative Ben
nett proceeded to Greece, Turkey, Syria,
Asia Minor, Palestine and Roumania.
while Commissioner Wheeler and myself
o+f 10 ha mnr1r In Austria.
Hungary, Russia and England.
Senator Latimer,S 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
speciai features of the work there and on
the continent.
Methods Employed
~,1n conducting their Investigations the
commissioners gave special attention to-
the methods employed by the transporta-
tion companies in handling emigrants, the
effect of the United States immigration
laws upon European emigration, and the
attitude of the various countries toward
the departure of their subjects to other
lands The question of preventing the
coming of criminal classes into the United
States has been chief subject of investi-
CATION by the subcommittee, and 1T Is
probable that important recommendations
on this matter will be made to congress.
sThe subject of emigration is para
mount one in most of the countries we
have visited and in most of them the
attitude toward emigrations is not favor
able. The constant and long continued
drain upon the rural population, from
which class the great majority Oh emil
grants come, and the general prosperity
which now prevails have produced q
scarcity of farm labor. 1t Is contendeo
that the agricultural industry is suffering
In consequence.
because of this scarcity of labor, the
condition of those remaining at nome mas
been improved to degree, but the gem |
eral condition is causing much alarm
among land owners and a strong senti- |
ment against emigration has developed |
A very large proportion of male emf |
grants leave their native countries at a |
time when they are liable to military |
service there, and this constitutes
strong objection to such emigrants.
Emigration Benefits
son the contrary 1t is true that in |
some parts of Europe, at least, emigration
is not without its attending benefit and
this is recognized and considered For
example, there is a decided tendency on
the part of aliens of certain nationalities
TO SenQ DdCk 10 thSii lidtiNS
large part of their earnings In the United
States The total amount OF money thus
each year is enormous, ana
the greater part of 1t goes to countries
where it is much needed, and, therefore,
highly appreciated. Added to this is de-
sire on the part of nearly all the seaboard
countries of Europe to build up a mer-
chant marine, and the carrying or emf
grants is in many cases essential TO the
success Of such enterprises.
"These are the real forces that control
the situation in Europe today, and the
trend of affairs indicates that more at
tention and greater supervision of emil
grafton on the part of the countries most
concerned will result. The chief causes
of emigration from Europe are:
"a widespread knowledge that labor Is
more generously rewarded in America |
than home, the advice and financial as
sistance of relatives and friends who have
already emigrated and the persistent |
activity of agents selling steamship tick /
cts, who are to be found all over Europe, |
despite the fact that soliciting emigra-
tion is prohibited by the law in nearly |
every European country and by our own
emigration laws.
S"In the course of the tour Of inquiry |
and investigation, the commissioners have
obtained important information and have
made arrangements to get more. They
FEEL confident that before their work is
completed they can su ,nlit recommended
tions which, II enacted into law, will be
both valuable and important"
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,