Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-03
The Stricter Immigration Law.

With the beginning of July the new
iElmigra ton law went into effect
which, although not so stringent in
many respects as might have been de-
sirable, is nevertheless more risor Jus
than the old law and will doubtless
operate To keep many from our shores
whose presence is not wanted here.
The excluded classes are extended to
cover the imbncile the feeble minded.
the conservative, the physically and
morally defective, and by its increase
of head money" will not only add a
million or two yearly to the revenues
Of the government, but will also sub
undesirables who have been dumped
upon our shores in increasing numbers
in recent years.
1t is no secret that various foreign
governments have done systematic
business in unloading their paupers,
criminals and undesirable classes gen.
orally upon the United States, to the
serious menace of our social conditions
and to be cared for at our hospitals
prisons ana charitable Institutions. 1t
is hoped that under the new laws less
of this will be possible than has hither-
to been the case.
The new law also authorizes the inl-
migration authorities to attempt 80
beneficial distribution of attempted
aliens among the several states and
territories desiring immigration" The
operation of this task of distribution
will be watched with close interest,
for it is likely to prove by no means
as easy as it looks. The tendency of
immigrants to gather in great cities is
far from being altogether accidental.
The ties of kindred speech and thought
arc strong. Italians flock to join
Italians already settled here, and the
various foreign colonies receive steady
accretiOns. A very large proportion of
INV iltNt al uCIillllt utotIlld-
ton in mind when they start for this
country, and land ticketed through.
Some Southern and Western states will
doubtless pick up help under the dis
tribution project, but their retention of
these laborers depends upon the ac-
ceitahility of the employment af-
forded. Alien congestion in our big
cities is problem which may demand
many experiments before a solution is
attained, and the popular but errone-
oHs impression that every foreigner
coming here is SO eager for labor that
he will go anywhere to secure it is
likely to prove one of the embarrass-
ments of the situation.
1t will be interesting to watch the
operation of the new law and see
whether the number of newcomers to
our shores actually decreases or
whether it continues to increase. Last
year the number of immigrants passed
the million mark and for the first half
of this year there has been an even
larger number of arrivals than for the
corresponding period of 1906. The
problem of assimilating this great
army of newcomers-almost as many
aliens arriving in a single year as the
total combined population Of Maine
and New Hampshire-is of stupendous
proportions, and although our land has
thus far seemed equal to it there is
serious question whether the process
can he kept up Indefinitely without
harm Detailing our country and its
cherished institutions. Anyway it is
safe proposition that changes i'm the
immigration laws in the future are
likely 10 be in the direction of greater
restriction rather than towards OPEN
ing again the gates as widely as of old.