Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-12


Mr.. Root has so ably inaugurated.
South American Trade.
In promoting commerce between the
American nations the bureau can be very
effective if our Congress will give its sup
port and assistance The possibilities can
be realized when we consider that the for
eign commerce Of the South American
countries alone not including Mexico Cen
trail America or the West Indies, amounted
to 81 .219 630. 800 in 1904. and that the share
of the United States was only S215, $50, 720,
while that of England was 1913, 355, 900.
The people of South America in 1904
bought manufactured merchandise valued
at $499 ,615.SO0. We sold them $15, 159, SvD
worth; England sold them $50, 752, 500
worth.
The bureau of American republics ought
to do something toward changing that con-
dition Of trade, but as long as our Con-
gress refuses to furnish mail and transpor-
And there are various other obstacles In
the way of trade that might easily be re-
moved, but Congress is Indifferent to them.
The Odious Head Tax.
have several times referred to the odious
head-money tax imposed upon foreign mer
chants living in .Iexico who come over to
San Francisco. San Antonio. st. Louis.
Chicago, New Orleans, other western
markets to buy goods Seventy-tive per
cent of the wholesale and retail d llers in
merchandise in Mexico are foreigners
mostly Germans, with few English.
French, Spanish and Italians There are
hundreds of mine managers and superin-
tendents in Mexico of the same nationali-
ties. who are large purchasers of mining
machinery and supplies. But, every time
they cross the border into the United
States. they are compelled to sign declara-
ton similar to that which the Brazlnan
ambassador refused to make out when he
landed in New York last fall. This declara-
ton requires a traveller to state whether
he Is an anarchist or a nihilist; WI ether he
has ever been in prison or convicted of
crime, and whether he is insane or
pauper. He must declare under oath,
whether anybody else is paying his ex-
penSes, and whether he has $50 in cash In
his clothes. Then the immigrant inspector
comes around and collects 81 from him, be-
cause he was born in some other country
than Mexico or the United States. The rest
of the passengers are not subjected to this
humiliation. only those that were born in
Europe, Asia, or the other American re-
publics, and such people usually conSt-
tute about one-fourth or one-third of the
passengers in the sleeping car.
These regulations were framed IN order
to keep out of the country undesirable i'm
migrants, and are not only necessary, but
proper, to be applied to the hordes of aliens
that land at Ellis Island at the rate of
more than 5000 a day. They were never
intended to apply ITO merchants or tourists,
the Mexican frontier attempt to enforce
them, there is a row.
1 have referred to this subject several
times in the hope that the House OF Repre-
sentatives would amend the immigration
bill now pending so as to make an ex-
emption in favor of merchants and tourists
The bureau Of manufactures Of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor Is try
ing to induce more of the merchants of
Mexico to come over to the United states
to buy goods. The bureau of immigration
is trying to keep them out by strictly en-
forcing odious laws 1t Is up to Mr.. Straus,
the new Secretary of Commerce and Labor,
who is himself business man, ana or
foreign birth, to reconcile these conf1icting
authorities by persuading Congress to
amend the law.
Mr.. Eschauzier's Experience.
Mr.. Francis Eschauzier of San Luis
Potosi, referring to a recent publication in
these letters. says:
II have read with pleasure In the Mexican
Herald of the I'D instant of your efforts
to bring about the abolition of the odious
head tax imposed by the American govern
ment on foreigners entering the United
States.
my experience in this regard will in
terest you. as the damage done to trade and
to the railroads is perhaps greater than you
may think.
fair with six Mexican gentlemen. My prin-
cipal object in going was to buy cattle and
horses / brought back to San Luis three
carloads of cows and one carload OF jacks.
These animals, being all pure bred, cost
several thousand dollars. Being British
subject I had to pay the 81 head tax. much
to the amusement of my friends, who, be-
ing Mexicans, were allowed to pass into
the United States free.
''Now doesn't it strike the American gov
eminent that it is a most ridiculous thing
to oblige man (who, strictly speaking. is
not an immigranD to pay ~ Tor the prlvi-
lege of entering the United States when his
only object in going there is to trade with
the American people, exchanging his good
money for their products and thus con-
United States? Doesn't the United States
government realize that 1t is obstructing
the development Of its own country by put
ting difficulties in the way OF foreigners
who trade with the people OF tne united
States and who are not immigrants IN any
sense Of the word. nor wish to be such?
GAS a matter Of principle. I, for my part,
will avoid in the future as much as possible
trading or travelling in the United States
while this absurd law is enforced. If the
American people want my trade they will
have to let me in free. In this voice the
sentiments of many foreigners in Mexico.
81 have already begun to put my deter
,nination into practice. A few days ago
my wife and brother went on to Europe
They wished to go through New York, but
[ prevailed on them to take the German
steamer Princess Cecile from Tamp1co, 30
as to avoid the head tax.
81 should mention before ending this that
my wife is from Brooklyn, N. y and claims
to be an American, but, Notwithstanding. is
Obliged to pay the head tax, as she has
done on more than one occasion, on account
of being married to,
..Yours very truly.
FRANCIS ESCHAUZIER.
The same head tax is imposed upon
English merchants in Canada who come
over the border to buy goods at New
York. Boston. Detroit and other cities. And
they are compelled every time they come
to fill out that offensive blank required by
Congress and make oath that they are not
anarchists or lunatics or paupers and that
nobody is paying their expenses. 1t Is not
the fault of the immigration service. Its
officials would like to be relieved from
very embarrassing duty, but the law re-
ouires it and it must be done.
Events at Vienna, Va.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.