The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-06-20
SENATOR LATlMER
ON IMMIGRATION.
WRITES HIS views FROM MID OCEAN
ON HIS WAY TO EUROPE TO STUDY
QUESTION.

MID OCEAN, May 25:-Perhaps
few words concerning the immi-
grafton commission and its trip
abroad will be of interest to the
readers of your paper. As most of
them already know this commission
was created at the last session of
Congress, and its creation grew out
Of the discussion of the immigration
question, which was given Il great
deal of attention during the session.
This was emphasized by the num-
Der of amendments that were INTRO
duced, of conflicting kinds. Some
wanted our present immigration
laws made more lax, while others
wanted them made more stringent.
Congress was slow III agreeing to
aay particular measure, and there
was much uncertainty as to what
should be done for the best interests
of the country. Finally 1t was de-
cideG to appoint commission to in
vestigate the whole matter in all its
phases and to report its findings to
Congress. The commission consists
of three Senators, three Represent
atives and three laymen appointed
by the President. The Senators
are Messrs Dillingham;, Lodge and
myself, members of the Senate COM
mittee on immigration. The Rep
resentatlves are Messrs Howell,
Bennett and Burnett, members of
the House committee on immigra-
ton. The Presidents appolntees
are Messrs Charles p Neill. J W
Jenks and w R Wheeler. Senator
Lodge and Messrs Neill and jerks
were unable to take the European
trip for different reasons and they
will be studying immigration ques-
tions in the United States this sum-
Ger while we are abroad. Each
member Of the commission taking
the trip has his wife along. Among
Others along with the party are Miss
Wheeler, niece of Commissioner
Wheeler; Mr. Burnett. u son of Con-
gresham Burnett; Miss Olive Lati-
mer and Mr. A NJ Carpenter, editor
of the Anderson Daily Mail.
The commission sailed from Bos-
ten on Saturday, May 13, on the
steamer Canopic, of the White Star
Line, and yesterday We passed the
Azores, stopping for few hours
at Ponta DelgaGa, on the Island Of
st Michael. We are due Monday
at Gibraltar and the steamer then
goes on to Naples, where the party
will land. The weather has been
ideal SO far and the "trip has been
delightful. There has been little
if any seasickness.
The commission has already start
ed its work. There are about 400
steerage passengers on board, which
class embraces the immigrants, who
are returning to their native homes.
We have goue among them and
made Investigations us to their rea
sons for returning. About 80 per
cent are returning on account of
sickness, many are going home to
visit their relatives, and
Others are going to bring relatives
back with them. The general con-
dition of the steerage passengers Is
coed: they have fair accommoda-
tions and the legal requirements of
our Government with regard to
space on Loard the ship and sanitary
conditions are complied with.
A close inquiry among the pass
engers, reports Of special agents and
our own commissioners emphasizes
tie fact that in order to obtain per-
manent benefit from immigration
it is necessary to treat the first i'm
migrants in a community we'll and
to surround them with proper econ
oric conditions. In other words,
IL