New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-02
KEEPING THE NATTOy,s GATES.

Two recent official utterances concerning the
regulation Of immigration at this port are de-
serving Of attention and will be regarded with
approval by thoughtful men. One coming from
the bureau of immigration under instruction
from the Secretary Of Commerce and Labor re-
iates 70 the arrest and attempt 10 deport per-
sons who had been admitted without objection
and whose sole offence seems 10 have been non
compliance with the dictates Of some industrial
organization. The subject is one which we have
lately discussed, and il IS agreeable TO record
the further emphasizing and confirming of the
principles which were then quoted with appro-
baton from Secretary NageI's decision. 10 the
effect that arrests for deportation should be
made with caution and only on the strongest
grounds, in order TO avoid injustice and oppres-
sion. the gratifying Of personal spite or enmity
or the exercise OF coercion and terror. Reason
and equity, indeed, convincingly suggest the de-
STABILITY OF exclusion rather than expulsion. OF
exercising more conservative discretion in the
admiSsion Of aliens rather than more zeal In de-
porting those against whom causes Of offence
may nave arisen or who may even have been
Improperly admitted through inadvertence The
right and the duty Of deporting objectionable
aliens, even after they have been domiciled here
for some time, are not 10 be denied or neglected
But the prior and superior rights and duties are
those OF strict scrutiny and inexorable rejection
OF unht applicants for entrance TO these shores
II Is 70 this latter phase of the case that the
other utterance which has been made relates
We are informed that the Secretary OF Com
merce and Labor cordially upholds the nolicv
Of the local Commissioner Of Immigration and
that as a result OF his recent visit to Ellis Isl
and requirements for admission 10 this country
are likely 10 be even more strict than at present
rather than more lax. That is well, for there Is
reason 20 believe that some immigrants now
get through the gates with no adequate guar
Rntee that they will not speedily become charges
upon the public for support. Mr.. Williams Is
right In insisting upon the bona fdc possession
Of certain amount OF money as priInG facie
disproof Of pauperism. I'm n recent shlpload
there were thlrty-one with no money at all,
thirteen with not more than 81 each forty-slx
with more than 81, but not more than So. and
rfiy-six with between s. and SO. In another
company there were seventy without cent.
and twenty-five more with not more than 81
each Now, II might be that some OF these had
well.to-do relatives or friends here who would
provide for them. but unless there was positive
assurance 70 that effect the exclusion of these
penniless wanderers was not only proper. bur
necessary.
We are not unmindful Of the fact that some
benevoently disposed persons disapprove such
exclusion and urge that the gates Of this nation
should be opened freely 10 the poor and op-
pressed Of all lands. But there is such a thing
rs carrying the idea Of asylum too far The first
duty Of n government is 10 its own constituent
citizens rather than 10 aliens or to potential
citizens. sympathy with thesafiicted in other