The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-09
.STRAUS REPORTS
ON Immigration
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor
Presents Interesting Facts Re-
garding His Department.,
[specIal to Tho Times. Dispatch. !

WI. otIduS pVlulS out tndt no LOOK
charge OF the department In the middle
OF the last fiscal year, succeeding Mr..
Metcalf, who became Secretary of the
Navy.
He calls attention to the fact that
his department Is composed OF the fol-
lowing bureaus:
Bureau Of Immigration and Natural.
cation. Bureau OF Corporations, Bureau
OF Labor, Bureau OF Statistics, Bureau
OF Manufactures, Bureau OF the Census,
Bureau of Navigation, Steamboat In
spection Service, Lighthouse Estab.
lishment, Bureau OF Fisheries, Coast
and Geodetic Survey and Bureaus of
Standards.
The report says in part:
This department. which Is the most
recent in It's creation has been stead.
lily growing and is rapidly coming into
closer relations with tho commercial
and labor interests OF the country. 1t
Is primarily and largely connected with
the internal economic interests of the
country, in the consideration of which.
however, 1t Is necessary not to lose
sight of the international relations
ing.
Immigration.
The subject of immigration Is nat
sitlon Of greater importance In this
country than In any other country
during modern times. Our growth from,
the beginning was due to tho migra.
tion OF peoples from the older nations
OF the world 10 this continent. During
earlier ages migratlons were due to
different causes, and were for differ
ent purposes than those which impelled
the migrations especially to our por-
ton OF the continent. Previous migra-
lions were duo principally to tho spirit
OF conquest. and they were en- masse
ana not indivldualistic. They were
from which the migrants came, as in
Roman times, and not for the benefit Of
the Individual. The migrations were
for conquest, for colonization: or for
commercially undertaken under the
patronage of the state from which the
migrants came. and were sent or H.
nakced by the governments OF such
countries. This was true not only Of
Roman imperialistic expansion, but
also Of the Spanish conquests on this
continent. a clear line OF distinction
must be drawn between this form OF
and that which Is individual.
istic and properly termed immigration.
Up to the close OF the Civil War all OF
to encourage immigration. From that
time on legislation was directed to-
ward the elimination OF undesirable I'm.
principally criminals and
paupers, who did not come to us OF
their own volition, but because their
governments desired to be rid OF them
Since the period above mentioned the
laws that have been passed upon the
subject, while In no way hostile to
as such, have proceeded
Upon the general policy OF selection,
thereby excluding more and more in
dividuals coming under the general
designation of undesirable classes.'
The total number of aliens admitted
during the year was 1.2s5.34a. which
exceeded that for the fiscal year 1896
by 1868, and that for the fiscal year
1906 by 25S,s5o, being Increases OF II
and rs per cent, respectively. During
the year 13,064 aliens were rejected,
an increase over the reflections for the
fiscal year 1906 of sac. TIE total NUM-
Der seeking admission in 1907, there
fore, was 1,2aSAlS. an increase over
the total number applying in 1906 OF
1S5,246.
A notable feature of tho immigru-
ton consists in the fact that of the
aliens admitted, 1.100,771 ranged In
age from fourteen to forty-four years,
and 1884 were less than fourteen.
years of age, leaving only dB,234 who
had reached or passed the age of
forty-five. AS to literacy, 1t Is shown
that 343.402, or 80 per cent. of the
total number of aliens admitted. were
illiterate. Concerning the financial
condition OF the immigrants. S7S,9s3
much moro they had 1t Is impossible to
state-while 107.50e showed amounts
in excess OF that sum; and tho total
amount of money which was exhibited
by arriving aliens. and brought into
the country. was s25,599,SoS, an aver
age OF almost $50 per person. There
has been considerable increase III
the number OF persons rejected ha-
cause of insanity. contagious diseases.
and convictions for crime
The hospitals of this country afforded
relief during the year to ll,52s aliens,
and warrants OF deportation were exc
cutad in the cases OF 995.'on the ground
81 unlawful residence or because or
having become public charges. and for
other causes, hearing having been
In each case. The total nuT-
ber of aliens actually returned to the
whence they came, therefore
Q3.O64, plus $3.50. was 1869. which.
with the tOta! number re-
Turned during the year 1906 Qo,a32.
plus 676). l3.1OS. shows an increase of
951. or over per cent
In order to ascertain the net increase
Of our population from year to yenr by
1t Is necessary to deduct
from the figures above given the num-
her of aliens who have departed from
the United States during the fiscal
year. as vol rs the number deported
and the number of naturallzed citizens
who permanently left the country dur
ing the same period. II is estimated
hat about 10000 aliens departed from
the United States during the fiscal year.
of which number probably 100 900 We're
If the northumberland alien class, thus
the Immigration for the year
10 about 1,075000. FROM these figures
Is further to be deducted the number
If naturaliaed citizens who during the
year have permanently left the country.