The Detroit times., 1909-03-02
FOREIGN WON { N
HELD As SLAVES IN
UNITED STATES
COMMISSION ATTACKS TRAFFIC.
WHICH SHOWS MARKED DE-
cREAsE-ReFoRT TO BE MADE
ON NUMBER OF JAPS IN v. s.

WASHINGTON, March 2.-The re-
port OF the Joint commission on immi
grafton, which was appointed by CON
gress ON Feb 20. 1907. was presenter
TO congress yesterday THIS repors
deals with practically every phase oi
the immigration question, including
Oriental aliens and other exciuueu
classes. peonage, charity among I'M
migrants. white slave traffic, condl'
lions OF steerage, anthropology. con-
gestion In large cities. allen crimina
lily. competition of Immigrants
school injuries, administration OF
the immigration laws, distribution OF
immigrants and other questions.
The entire investigation probably
will be finished during the next fscal
year. The report was printed ana
circulated yesterday To show the ne
cessity for an appropriation or s2oo'-
600 TO carry on and complete the
work. Thus far the expenses OF the
commission from April l, 1907. to
Feb. ~, 1909, have been $344,7s6.
There are at present 1873 persons
employed under the commission. Or
this number 50 are in Washington,
two in New York. two In San Fran
cisco. 90 are engaged in field work
and 20 in special lines OF inquiry
An extensive investigation is being
made into the question of the impor-
tation and harboring of women for I'M
moral purposes. The results show
that many women are being constant
ly imported under conditions which
amount to absolute slavery.
Shows Marked Decrease
AS the results OF its inquiries ana
the evidence il has gathered there has
been q noteworthy attack on this busl-
ness which has resulted in very
marked decrease since the commission
began its work.
Ii has been found that In numerous
instances persons afflicted with con
tagious diseases, and even criminals
OF dangerous type, have been able
TO evade the immigration laws ana
come TO this country under the pre-
tense of being seamen.
The utmost Importance is attached
To the inquiry being made into the sub
jet of alien criminality. The higher
criminal courts of New York city are.
at the request of the commission, keep
ing records in great detail OF each
person convicted OF crime. and II is
intended that a study OF foreign-born
criminals and criminals of the second
generation will be made in that city
The investigation however, is not con-
fined TO the larger cities. but Is being
carried into smaller centers and in
dustrial communities in various parts
of the country.
In taking up the congestion OF i'm
migrants in large cities the commits
sion Is observing communities inhab-
tied principally by members or one
race. as TO whether the clinging to-
gether OF members of the same race
handicaps them in their struggle for
advancement and prevents their rapid
assimilation and AUGMENTATION.
A careful inquiry among wage-earn-
ers who are forced to compete with
immigrant labor is being made among
workers in the trades and occupations
In which immigrants are largely en-
gagged
Report Deals With Japanese.
The investigation of oriental immi-
grafton has been confined thus far to
the Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast
sections and special emphasis has
been placed upon the inquiry concern
ing the Japanese. Without the cen
sus recently ordered in California, the
agents OF the commission claim they
have fairly accurate Information CON
corning the numbers of Japanese In
California, their distribution by coun
ties and Industrial districts, their oc
equations and trades. In California
and Washington the report when
made, will cover the presence OF Jap
anese. Chinese and Hlndus.
The school is declared by the com
mission to be the most potent inhu
ence In promoting the assimilation
and Americanization OF the immigrant
The. commission expects TO be able
TO report at an early date the effect