The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-06-19
Mid ocean, May 25, 1907.

Mid Ocean, May %, 1901.
BIT. z tor Perhaps a few words
concerning the immigration co1nnais-
sion and its trip abroad viii be Of in
serest 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 i'm
migration question, which was given
great deal of attention during the
session. This was emphasized by the
namber of amendments that were in
1roduced, Of conflicting kinds. Some
wanted our present immigration laws
made more lax while others wanted
them made more stringent. Congress
was slow in agreeing to any particular
measure, and there was much uncer-
Eaznty as to what would be done for
sfne best interest Of the country. FL
nally it was decided to appoint COM
mission TO investigate the whole mat
Ter in all of its phases, and to report
It's findings to congress. The ccmnais-
son consists of three senator's, three
representatives and three laymen, ap-
pointed by the president. The sena-
Essrs are 9lessrs. Dillingham;, lodge
Iana myself, members Of the senate
eonmittee On immigration. The rep
sesentatives are Messrs. Howell. Ben
ss=tt and Burnett, members of the
house committee on immigration The
sresident's appointees are Messrs.
Esnarles P. Neill, ]. W. jerks
aid W. r. Wheeler. Senator Lodge
a5.d Messrs. Neill and jerks were un-
as5,e TO take the European trip, for
;3igerent reasons, and they will be
Studying the immigration question in
the United States this summer while
NE are abroad Each member of the
eenauaission taking the trip has his
wife along Among others along with
Fne party are Miss Wheeler, a niece
OF commissioner Wheeler, Mr.. Bur
nett, a son of Congressman Burnett,
Miss Olive Latimer and Mr.. A. NJ,
Carpenter, editor Of the Anderson
Daily Mail.
The commission sailed from Boston
on Saturday. May IS, on the steamer
Csnopic of the White Star Line. and
yesterday we passed the Azores, stop=
ping for few hours at Ponta Delga-
da. 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 50 tar, and
fhe trip has been delightful. There
has been little if anv seasickness.
The commission has already start
ed its work There are about 400
steerage passeigers on board, which
class embraces the immigrants, who
are returning to their native homes.
We have gene among them and made
investigations as to their reasons for
returning. About 33 per cent. are
returning on account Of sickness;
roany are going home to visit their
relatives. and others are going over
to bring relatives back with them.
The general condition of steerage
passengers is good; they have fair ac-
cammodatious. and the legal require
1nents OF our government with regard
TO space on board the ship and the
sanitary conditions are complied with.
A close inquiry among the passen-
gers, reports Of special agents and
cur own commissioners emphasizes
the fact that in order TO obtain per-
naaoent benefit from immigration it
IS necessary to treat the first immi-
grants in a community we'll and to
surround them with proper economic
conditions In other words, the wages
paid, whether in money or cheaper
rents OF lower priced food and cloth
ing, must equal, or nearly equal,
what can be obtained in any other
section of our country. If these con-
ejtions are met the frt immigrants
3lease. md will write back
II 5nds that conditions are
~ fac Dry md tlseg ends will fol
Ioa n. On the DC + hand. ii
these conditions are ngt met, the first
Immigrants viii go somewhere else
aud viii not write th4r friends te
come until they have found place
xhere conditions are satisfas-91E 0
urse 1t must be borne f72 mind TIA
&: 8tions generally in orr countr'
much better than they are abroad
a.15sIlq rs in different parts Of GU