The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-06-19
IMMIGRATION COMMISSION
An Interesting Letter from Senator
Latimer.
Mid Ocean, May Is. 1907

An Interesting Letter from senator
Latimer.
Mid Ocean. May Is. 1907.
Mr.. E~ditor-Perbaps q few words concern.
ing the ImmierationC Commission and lis trip
abroad will be Of interest to the readers of
your paper. AS mosto them already know,
this Commission was created at inc last seq y,
the discussion OF the immigration question,
which was given a great deal OF attention
during the session. session, 81 Ta amen Sss epp Esa,
were introduced, OF conflicting kinds. Some
wanted our present immigration avs made
more lax, while others wanted them made
more stringent, Congress was slow In agree
ing to any particular measure, and there was
much uncertainty as TO what should be done
for the best interests Of the country. Finally
vestigate the Whole matter in all OF It's
phases, and to report It's findings TO Congress.
The Commission consists Of three Senators,
/ t pointe edP bs the President The Senators are
I Messrs. Dillingham;, Lodge, and myself. mem
bers OF the Senate Committee on Immigra-
tioni Inc tepr res R sarlvss s msm messsS Of the
House Committee on immigration. TIE
Presidents appointees are Messrs. Chas. r.
MsNsill 7: oG W.: J sDd M sIa VI Neil Hi an we Jsns.
were unable to take the European trip. for
different reasons, and they will be studying
the Immigration question IN tne En as
Each member OF the commission taking. the
trip has bis wife along. Among others along
With the party are s MISS W. Whe Rnene e pl soe OF OF
Congressman Burnett. Miss Olive Latlmer.
and Mr.. A: Nj: Carpenter, Editor OF the Ander'
son Daily Mail.
the White Star Line, and yesterday we
R gan,s b 5ss Assre es s sSs PsIan t1f Of Z So j." M sGSps q.
We are due Monday at Gibralta, and the
steamer then goes on 70 Naples, where the
80 far, and the trip has been delightful.
There has been little II any s~easickDess.
The Commission has already started lis
work. There are about 400 steerage passen-
gers on boardSwhioh class embraces the Inn.
migrants, who are returning TO their natlVe
homes. We have gone among them and
made n Investigations as TO their reasons for re-
account Of sickness; many are going home 70
visit their relatives, and others are going over
to bring relatives back with them. The
Il good: they have fair accommodations and
the legal requirements OF our government
with regard 10 space on board the snip ana
sanitary conditions are complied with.
A close inquiry among the PASSENGERS, re-
ports OF special agents and our own commits
sioners emphasizes the fact that in order TO
EeI a psamsne TO treat usue The fipst immisfants IN a
we'll and TO surround them with
proper economic conditions. In other words,
tn6 W2QSSD aIu, Wu6lucE III l1OuCJ vi hOoP
rents, or lower priced food and clothing,
must equal. or nearly equal. what can be OBJ
tained in any other section OF our country.
II these conditions are met the nrst lmml.
their friends that conditions are satisfactory
and their friends will follow them. On the
other hand, If these conditions are not met,
the first immigrants will 60 somewhere else
and will not write their friends to come until
they have found q place where conditions are
satisfactory. or course 1t must be borne IN
~ xhot 1rAttio nanarollv In m nNnn .
try are much better than they are abroad.
Conditions In different parts OF our own coun-
try, however, vary, and these variations are
not always fully understood by our own PEG:
pie, and they are liable TO be misunderstood
by the immigrants. For instance, an lmmi.
grant arriving In one section Of the United
States may hear Of some other section where,
he Is told, the conditions are much better. II
ts quite natural that he should not under
stand the disadvantages OF the other section,
and should become dissatisfied and want to
I learn through one Of my brother commits.
sioners that the planters OF Hawaii early this
year sent an agent TO me Azores; which 10
curing q ship load under contract TO engage
In sugar planting in the Hawaiian Islands.
Shortly after arriving at that destination a
70 the report Of better wages prevailing in
that State. This instance seems closely
analogous TO that we have recently expe-
rtenced in our own State. and goes TO prove
that the Immigrant, no matter how much he
may be lettering his original condition by
Immigration, will not hesitate to better him.
self after arrival at his first destination on
learning that better wages or conditions pre-
vail elsewhere. AS an evidence to the inter-
est OF the immigrants in our country, l
quote the follow Ing from a recent official re-
p"Distribution through labor agents Is the
most satisfactory method tor the unskilled
worker, The most effective Is through the
United States Domestic and lnternationa
Through this channel reliable information
as to employment, wages, and location ls
tinted States to the intending immigrant be.
lore he leaves his native land. The relative
or friend In the mine, factory, or WORK OF
construction knows II th hs fr is 3 s nc rsEi,v 81
in Europe. The magnitude OF the Interna
tionaI Mail and Money Order System OF the
United states. together with Inc so n iaeI tnsi th ie
ihe states where wages are highest and thell
services in greatest demand, indicates the
effectiveness Of The system and the accuracy
This will give some idea OF the conolusloni
that l have reached az far as our lnVestlga
tions have gone, and l find that ibis view II
shared by the other members OF the Commls
Sion n we are to get the Dement'S of1mmf
yraIion we must make the first ones VINO
Come over satisfied with the conditions they
Snd IF we do this they will write home 70
,heir friends and relatives, who will follow
- viii mail this letter at Gibraltar. where
onr ship will call, and will try TO write occa-
StnnaIiv while on the trip. On reaching
Non1as we begin our study OF the conditions
%surPounding the immigrant In his native
land. and the causes .. tina, hat Induce nd R' Waf 70 EN- Tht
sIa.S' t,inarorv mas not been fully deter
eaaSs i ~ nav Be changed to suit Sirsum
stances. We are scheduled 1 10 sail and ff ron
LivsrpSol fS %o nSla aso Sn September 6.
Respectfully. r1..,mor