The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-03-01
IMMIGRATION
PROb[EMOFN NATION
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE RE-
PORTED ON WORK OF PAST
YEAR AND SUGGESTED MANY
CHANGES IN EXISTING Laws.


showing the far reaching character
of the work of the joint commission
on immigration, which was appoint
ed by congress on February 10, 1907,
were presented to congress today
through the publication of prelimi-
nary report by the commission. This
report deals with virtually every
phase of the immigration question,
including oriental aliens and other
excluded classes, peonage, charity
among immigrants, white slave traf-
fic, conditions of steerage, anthro-
pology, congestion in large cities,
alien criminality, composition of i'm
migrants, school inquiries, admins
tration of the immigration laws, dis
tribution of immigration, and other
questions. No conclusions have been
reported by the commission, but the
scope of the work is shown in a mar
ner which presages extensive legisla-
ton in the future. 1t is stated that
if the plans of the commission are
realized the various lines of work
outside Washington will be complet-
ed in the early fall, probably by Sep
TENDER Is. The entire investigation
probably will be finished during the
newt fiscal year. The report was
printed and circulated today to show
the necessity for an appropriation OF
100000 to carry on and complete
the work Thus far the expenses of
the commission from April 1, 1907,
to February 1, 1909, have been
S544,796 There are at present 1913
persons employed under the commits
sion. OF this number 80 are in Wash
ington, two in Ne wYOrk, two in San
Francisco, go are engaged in field
work and 20 in special lines of in
quiry. The commission says it is
generally admitted by those acquaint-
ed with the subject that, notwith-
standing the present law proposes to
provide for the exclusion of every
undesirable immigrant, thousands of
undeniably industrious persons are
admitted each year. 1t has been
found that the law in theory so far
as it's exclusion provides are con-
cerned, is exceptionally strong, but
in effect it is in some respects weak.
The commission says it has discover
ed several sources of this weakness
and it is it's purpose to recommend
some effective remedies.
One of the most important fea-
lures of the work is connected with
evasions of the law resulting in the
importation of excluded classes. Not
withstanding the expenditure Of
about 100000 annually to enforce
this law, the commission finds that
it can not prevent the coming of
Chinese laborers in considerable nub-
ers.
An extensive investigation is being
made into the question of the i'm
portation and harboring of women
for immoral purposes. The results
show that many women are being
constantly imported in under condi-
lions that amount to absolute slav-
cry. AS the result of it's inquiries
and the evidence it has gathered
there has been a noteworthy attack
upon this business which has resulted
in a very marked decrease. 1t has
been found that in numerous in
stances persons afflicted with con-
tagious diseases and even criminals
of "a dangerous type, have been able
to evade the immigration laws and
come to this country under pretenses
of being seamen The utmost i'm
portance is attached to the inquiry
being made into the subject of alien
criminality. The higher criminal
courts of New York City are at the
request of the committee, keeping
record in great detail of each per-
son convicted of crime, and it is in
tended that a study of foreign born
criminals and criminals of the Sec
oni generation shall be made in that
city. The investigation is not con-
fined to the larger cities, however,
but is being carried into smaller cen
tiers and industrial centers and in
dustrial communities in various parts
of the country.
The most extensive and important
work undertaken by the commission
is the general field investigation into
economic and social status of immi-
grants to various sections of the
country. The most important topic
being covered is the race of employees
in each occupation, years each race
hoe heen emnlOyed. hours of work