The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-12-07
NEW FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
LAW,

The new federal immigration law
(Chapter 1874, Acts of 1909 which,
with the exception Of certain specified
provisions, went into effect on July /,
1907, differs in some important par
ticulars from the so-called "Immigra-
ton Act Of 1903" Thus the new law
imposes a head tax Of four dollars in
stead Of two dollars on all aliens en-
tering the country except such as have
resided in Canada, Newfoundland,
Cuba, or Mexico for at least one year
Immediately preceding their applica-
ton to enter.
In addition to idiots, insane, epilep-
tics, paupers, persons likely to become
public charges, professional beggars,
persons afflicted with loathsome or
dangerous contagious diseases, persons
convicted of felony, etc., polygamists.
anarchists, etc., prostitutes, contract
laborers, and assisted immigrants, also
specified in the earlier act, the follow
ing classes of persons to be excluded
have been added: imbeciles; feeble
minded; persons afflicted with tuber-
culosis; persons certified under med I.
ical examination to be physically or
mentally defective such defect being
Of nature which may affect the abil-
ity Of such alien to earn a living; per-
sons admitting crime; children under
16 years Of age unaccompanied by one
or both parents, at the discretion Of
the secretary of commerce and labor
or under sucn regulation as he may
from time to time prescribe; and
women and girls who may be entering
the country for immoral purposes, in
addition to those coming for purposes
of prostitution.
Insane aliens whose health or safety
would be unduly imperiled by immedi-
ate deportation may, at the expense Of
the immigration fund, be held for
treatment until such time as such alien
may be safely deported. The period,
within which a person found to be a
public charge for causes existing prior
to landing may be deported, was in
creased from two to three years.
The earlier law relating to immigra-
ton of alien contract laborers has been
changed by the new act in two irnpor-
tant respects as follows: O) Aliens
solicited or induced to migrate by
reason of offers, or promises, even
when there is no contract Of employ
ment, will hereafter be excluded; and
CD a person. otherwise admissible,
whose passage money is paid by an
other must be prepared to show that
his passage was not paid by a corpo-
ration, an association, a society, a
municipality, or foreign government,
whether such payment be made direct
ly or indirectly.
The employment of a special force
without reference to civil service reg
ulations, was authorized for the en-
forcement of that portion Of the new
act which excludes alien contract la
borers, and the sum Of $4,000 an
nually was made available for this pur-
pose, such sum to be drawn from the
immigration fund. The provisions of
the new act do not refer to contract
laborers or other aliens entering the
Canal Zone, but aliens leaving the
Canal Zone are to be considered as
aliens notwithstanding.
The act also provided for the estab-
lishment Of a joint commission on Inn
lnigrat ton empowered ito make full
inquiry, examination and investiga-
tom into the subject Of imn,ixratio
and also delega tea to the president of
the United States certain powers. one
| OF which was the power to call an in,
ternational conference on Immigration
These provisions took effect on the
passage Of tho bill (February 20, 1907.
Tho act further provided for tho es-
adjustment Of bureaus Of infornoa ton
and naturalization under the direction
and contro: OF the secretary OF com.
merce and labor, the duty Of which
bureaus shall be ITO promote bcne>
| fetal distribution OF aliens admitted
into the United States among the sew
eral states and territories desiring i'm
migration" The Boston bureau was
formally opened on September 2s, WITH