The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-02
MADE COMPLETE
INVESTIGATION
Joint Commission on ImmigTa-
ton Publishes a Pre-
Iiminary Report.
FACTS AND FIGURES GIVEN
EVERY PHASE OF VEXED CUES
TON RECEIVES ATTENTION.

Washington, March Some facts
showing the far-reaching character OF
the work of the joint commission on
immigration which was appointed bv
congress on Feb. 20, 1907. were pre-
scented to congress today through the
publication of d preliminary report bv
the commission. This report deals with
practically every phase of the immigra-
ton question, including oriental aliens
and other excluded classes. peonaEe-
charity among immigrants, while slave
traffic, conditions of steeTage, anthro-
polCgy, congestion in large cities, alien
crilulnaiity, competition of immigrants.
school inquiries. administration of the
immigration laws. distribution of i'm
migrants and other questions.
No conclusions have been reported
by the commission. but the scope Of the
work is shown in a manner which pre-
sages extensive legislation in the fu-
ture
It is stated that if the plans Of the
commission are realized the various
lines of work outside Washington will
be completed in the early fall, probably
by Sept. Is. The entire investigation
probably will be finished by the next
fiscal year.
Appropriation Needed.
The report was printed and circulated
today to show the necessity for an ap-
preparation Of S250,0O0 to carry on ana
complete ;he work Thus far the ex-
penses Of the commission, from April I,
1907, to Feb I, 1909 have been S344. 796.
There are at present 1856 persons en-
plOyed under the commission. Of this
number, 81 are in Washington 2 In New
York, in San Francisco, 81 are en-
gagged in field work and 20 IN special
lines OF inquiry. The commission says
it is generally admitted by those ac-
quainted with the subject that, not
withstanding the present law proposes
to provide for the exclusion Of every
undesirable immigrant, thousands OF
undeniably undesirable persons are ad-
mitted each year. It has been found
that the law in theory, so far as its
exclusion provisions are concerned, is
exceptionally strong, but IN effect It is
in some respects weak. The commits
sion says it has discovered several
sources of this weakness, and it is its
purpose to recommend some effective
remedies.
EVasions of the Law.
One Of the most important features
of the work is connected with evasions
of the law resulting in the importation
of excluded classes Notwithstanding
nualiy to enforce this law. the commits
sion finds that it does not prevent the
coming Of Chinese labOrers in COnsfd-
cradle numbers.
An extensive investigation is being
made into the question of the irnporta-
ton and harbOring Of women for i'm
moral purposes. The results show that
many women are being constantly i'm
ported under conditions which amount
to absolute slavery. As the result OF
its inquiries and the evidence II has
gathered, there has been a noteworthy
attack upon this business, which has
resulted in a very marked decrease.
1t has been found that I'm numerous
instances persons afflicted with con-
tagiOus diseases. and even criminals Of
a dangerous type, have been able to
evade the immigration laws and como
to this country under the pretense OF
being seameu.
Alien CrimiHaIity.
The utmost importance is attached t.
the inquiry being made into the subject
Of alien criminaIity. The higher GRIM
inal courts Of New York city are. at
the request Of the committee, keeping
records in great detail Of each person
convicted of crime, and it Is intended
that a study of foreign-born criminals
and criminals Of the second generation
shall be made in that city. The fnves-
tigation, however, is not confined to the
larger cities, but is being carried into
smaller CenteTs and indUstTiaT Commu-
mites IN various parts Of the country.
The most extensive and important
work undertaken by the commission is
the general field investigation into Sc
economic and social status Of immi-
grants to various sections of the couu-
try. The most important topics being
covered are the race of employees IN
each occupation years employed. hours
of work. and discrimination for OF
against immigrants In employment,
wages and housing.
In taking up the congestion Of immi-
grants in large cities the commission is
observing communities inhabited priu-
Continued on PAGE 3.