The Mena weekly star., 1908-01-02
REGARDING IMMIGRATION
Senator Dillingham; Believes that European Countries Will Keep
 Labor al Home.
COMMITTEE WILL TskE PLENTY OF TIME
Chairman of Immigration comnis- sion Says No Recommendation For Important Legislation Will be Made to Congress For at Least a Year--Has Valuable Data.


 Washington, Dec. 27.--The immi- grafton committee, created by con gress at it's last session, will not un- dertake to recommend any important legislation affecting foreign immigra- tion this year. It is. of course, possi- ble that some minor statutory legis- lation will be recommended by one or other of the committees on immigra- tion, but 1t is the purpose of the com mission to digest the extensive data it has already acquired, and thorough ly to consider the results before pre- senting it's findings to congress.
 For the first time since, in 1S46, the immigration of foreigners begin to present really serious problems, congress has taken steps necessary to acquire comprehensive and accur- ate light on the subject in all it's as- pects," said Senator Dillingham;, when asked what were the plans of the commission, of which he is chair man. "In accordance with the ex- pressed wish of congress, the com mission has undertaken to probe the subject to the bottom, and to gather and compile information which must prove invaluable.
 'Of course, conditions abroad, as well as here, are changing constantly, but the members of the commission are confident when 1t has completed xfe xyt1 hax fn a va ct amount of information which will prove of the greatest value as a guide to congress in it's future dealings with this subject.
 sThe work both at home and abroad has been delegated to subcom- mittees. and up to this time few re- ports have been made and none has been considered by the commission. Consequently, no conclusions have been reached, but, speaking for my self, I may say that, after extensive opportunities for observation abroad, my belief is that from now on the danger of an excess of European im- megration will be less than in the past.
 Throughout Europe the sentiment in favor of discouraging emigration to the United States is growing steadily, and in several instances a readiness to cooperate with this country should 1t manifest desire to curtail Euro pean immigration was evident. Ger many's great advance in industrial de- velopment during the last decade has had a marked influence upon other continental countries, and disposi- tion is everywhere manifest to devel- op home industries which will give employment to the people.
 "One of the important problems which the committee has to deal with is how to keep out this class of immi- grafton. My opinion is that the Ital- ian government will cooperate in any reasonable plan that may be sug- gested.
 "In Austria and Hungary, particu- larly in the latter, the governments are not only not encouraging emigra- ton, but, so far as they may properly do so, are discouraging it.
 Emigration from Norway and Sweden exist to some extent, but these nations, too, are anxious to keep their laboring classes at home and to promote home industries as far as possible.
 "The most interesting and impor- tant feature of the work of the com mission will be thorough investiga- ton of the demand and influence of immigration upon the United States. The causes for large inflow of aliens will be thoroughly investigated sys- tematic effort will be made to ascer- tain the value of immigrants from the different nations, the extent of which they are assimilated and the charac- ter of citizens they make in the first, second and third generations.
 Studies also will be made of diff ferent sections of our country, the op- portunitles they have to offer immi- grants and the demands that exist for labor. An attempt will also be made .to ascertain what classes of immi- grants are best suited to the demands of the different states.
 The members of the commission are unit in their determination to digest fully the problems before they propose radical legislative enact meuts. The indications are that the commission will pursue its labors throughout the next recess of con gross, possibly all next winter"