The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-03-04
MUST KEEP OUT
UNDES|RABLES
IMMIGRATION BUREAU REPORTS TO
CONGRESS THAT LEGISLATION
is NEEDED.
LAW is NOW WEAK IN EFFECT,
Many Chinese Laborers Escape Govern
ment Officers and Make Their Way
Into the Country.
INVESTIGATION NEARLY ENDED

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March l.
Some facts showing the far reaching
character of the work of the joint com
mission on immigration which was APP
pointed 10y Congress on February 20,
1907 We're presented to Congress today
through the publication of preliminary
report by the commission. This report
deals with practically every phase of
the immigration question, including
oriental aliens and other excluded
classes, peonage. charity among immi-
grants, white slave traffic, condition of
steerage, anthropology. congestion in
large cities. alien criminality, COMPETE
ton of immigrants. school inquiries, ad-
ministration of the immigration laws,
distribution of immigrants and other
questions
No conclusions have been reached by
the commission. but the scope of the
work is shown il! n manner which pre-
SageS extensive legislation in the future
1t is stated that if the plans of the COM
mission are realized the various lines of
work outside Washington will be com
pleted in the early fall, probably by Sep
TENDER 10. The entire investigation
probably will be finished during the next
fiscal year.
Undesirables Are Admitted
The commission says it is generally
admitted by those acquainted with the
subject that, Notwithstanding the fact
that the present law proposes 10 provide
for the exclusion of every undesirable
Immigrant thousands of undennbly I'M
desirable persons are admitted each
year 1t has been found that the law in
theory SO far as its exclusion provisions
are concerned. is exceptionally strong,
but III effect il is in some respects weak
and Intellectual. The commission says it
has discovered several sources of this
weakness, and it is its purpose to find
the others TO recommend some effective
remedies
One of the most important features Of
the work is connected with evasiuns of
the law resulting in the importation of
excluded classes. Notwithstanding the
expenditure of about SJOO,WN annually
TO enforce this law the commission finds
That II does not prevent the coming of
Chinese laborerS i'll considerable mum
berS.
An extensive investigation is being
made into the question of the impOrta-
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 results of
its inquiries and the evidences il has
gathered there has been noteworthy
attack upon this business which has re
suited in Il very marked decrease since
the commission began its work.
Diseased Persons Pass.
1t has been found that in numerous in
stances persons atmctcd with contagious
diseases, and even criminals of a dan
ger0uS type, have been able to evado the
immigration laws and come to this conn
try under the pretence of being seamen
The utmost Importance is attached ia
the inquiry being made into the subject
of alien criminalty. The higher Grim
inal courts of New York city are M Nm
request of the commission keeping rec.
ordS in great detail of each person CON
vcted of crime, and it is intended that
study of foreign born criminals sad
criminals Of the second generation will
lac made in that city. The Investigation
however is not confined to the larger
cities. but is being carried into smaller
centerS and industrial communities in
various parts of the country.
The investigation Of oriental immigra-
ton has been confined thus far to the
Rocky mountain and Pacific coast see
tons and special emphasis has been
placed upon inquiry concerning the Japa-
ncse. Without the census recently or
dcred in California, the agents of the
commission claim they have fairly ac
curate information concerning the mum
h"r Of Japanese in California. their dis
tribution by counties and industrial dis
tricts, their occupations and trades. In
California and Washington the report,
when made, will cover the presence Of
Japanese, Chinese and llinduS.