The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-03-27
May GET ALIENS.
u. S. Attorney General Bonaparte
EIucidates His Opinion.
Money For Prepayment Of Passage
Nav be Given Aliens by State but
Not by Individuals.


May be Given Aliens by State but
Not by Individuals.
The President has made public the
decision of Attorney General Bona
narte in answer to questions asked
bv Gov. Ansel, as to the efforts to
nromote immigration through Com
missioner Watson.
Replying to the first question
whether it is a violation Of the I'M
migration law in force at this time,
before the act of February 20, 1917,
takes effect, for a State to advertise
it's inducements and publish abroad
a scale of wages prevailing in its
borders, provided no contracts or
agreements expressed or implied are
entered into--Mr. Bonaparte ans
wers in the negative. Neither would
the State violate any law nor would
the alien be subject to deportation:
The second question Of Gov. Ansel's S
was whether the State may prepay
the passage Of immigrants secured
in the manner asked in the first
question, provided there is no con-
tract and the immigrant is left free
to choose employment upon arrival.
Mr.. Bonaparte says that the passage
may be prepaid provided the aliens
do not come within the catagorles OF
undesirable immigrants. He says
that the law prohibits any person
from preparing passage but the State
cannot be regarded as a person. The
introduction Of immigrants under
these circumstances, provided every
thing else had been legally done,
would not be Illegal.
The third question is an important
one as Gov. Ansel asks whether the
State, through its officers, can accept
contributions to its immigration
fund, provided the funds are con
tributed free from contract Of
agreement, the funds to be used il
defraying the expenses and passage
money of immigrants. What Woulc
be the status of immigrants applying
for admission under these circum
stances. The Attorney General say
the question is a difficult one to an
swer. He points out that If the con
tribution were given with the know
ledge that they would be used to pa.
for advertising and other purpose!
the act would come within the inhibl
ton of section six of the presen
law. The effect, however, would no
be the same as to the immigrants
They could not be excluded but th'
parties furnishing the money nigh
be in my opinion, liable to the penal
ties imposed by section 81 1t il
doubtful, however, if the govern
ment would undertake to bring pros
ecutions against contributors.
Mr.. Ansel then asks whether thu
act of February 20 will material.
change matters. The Attorney Gen
eral answers with emphasis that i
will. Under the new law he say
aliens solicited or induced to emigrat
by reasons Of offers or promises
even when there is no contract O
employment, will be excluded. Il
the next place, the new law exclude
immigrants whose passage none.
shall have been paid by a corpora
ton, association, society, municipal
ity or foreign government. " He say
the language Of the new law does no
prohibit State preparing passag
money, but if the payment is mad
from funds contributed by person
or associations, the immigrant woult
be liable to exclusion. The prohibi
tion, curiously enough does not ap
ly to prepayment by individuals rep
resenting the State, providing thei
action is in good faith, and it is 10
attended by combination or concer
of action. Under the new law, there
fore, a State may prepay the passage
of immigrants but the funds mus
be wholly those of the State unass
sisted from outside.
The Attorney General significant!
calls attention to the fact that il
both the old and new immigration
laws the important OF skilled labor i!
not forbidden when the like can no1
be found unemployed. AS South Car
olina cotton mills suffer much from
want of skilled labor, the point may
open the doors to considerable skilled
labor in that State.
The Farmer Feedeth All.