The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-04
REPORTS ON ALIENS
immigration Commission Finds Many
Weaknesses In Present Laws.

Weaknesses in Present Laws.
Washington. March S.-Some facts
showing the iar-reaching character Of
the work OF the Joint commission on
immigration which was appointed By
Congress on Feb. 90. 1907. have been
presented 10 Congress through the
publication of preliminary report by
the commission. This report deals
with practically every phase Of the
immigration question. including ORR
entail aliens and other excluded class
es, peonage. charity among immi-
grants. white slave" traffic, eOndit-
ions Of steerage, anthrOpology, con
gestion In large cities, alien criminal
ity, competition of immigrants. school
inquiries, administration of the immi-
grafton laws, distribution Of immi-
grants and other questions. No con
cusions have been reported by the
commission.
The entire investigation probably
Will be finished during the next fiscal
year The report was printed and
circulated today to show the necessity
for an appropriation of $3.50, 600 TO car
ry on and complete the work. Thus
far the expenses of the commission
from April l, 1907 to Feb. 81, 1909.
have been S344796. There are at
present 1873 persons employed under
the commission. OF this number so
are in Washington, two in New York
two in San Francisco, 80 are engaged
in field work and 20 in special lines
of inquiry
The commission says it is generally
admitted by those acquainted with the
subject that, notwithstanding the fact
that the present law proposes to pro-
vide for the exclusion of every unde-
sirable immigrant, thousands Of un-
deniably undesirable persons are ad-
mitted each year.
Notwithstanding the expenditure of
about 100000 annually to enforce this
law the commission finds that it does
not prevent the coming of Chinese Ia
borers in considerable numbers.
The utmost importance is attach
ed TO the inquiry being made into the
subject OF alien crlminality The
higher criminal courts of New York
city are, at the request of the com.
mission, keeping records in great de
tail of each person convicted of crime
and it is intended that a study of for
eign born criminals and criminals OF
the second generation will be made in
that city. The investigation, how
ever, is not confined to the larger cit
les, but is being carried into smaller
centers and Industrial communities
in various parts of the country.
The most extensive and important
work undertaken by the commission
is the general field investigation into
the economic and social status of i'm
migration. in various sections of the
country. The most important topics
? being covered is the race Of employees
in each occupation, years each race
has been employed, hours of work anC
discrimination for or against immi
grants in employment wages anC
housing
A careful inquiry among wage-earn
ers who are forced to compete will
immigrant labor is being made amonl
workers In the trades and occupations
in which immigrants are largely en-
gagged
r A special field investigation is beinl
conducted in selected localities in The
south, and it will cover the sentimen
TOT legislative bodies as indicated b!
legislation enacted affecting immi
grafton
The investigation of oriental immi
igratiOn has been confined thus far t,
the Rocky mountain and Pacific coas
sections and special emphasis hai
been placed upon the inquiry concern
ing the Japanese. Without the cen
sus recently ordered In California, tn,
agents of the commission claim, the!
have fairly accurate information con
corning the numbers of Japanese il
California, their distribution by coun
ties and industrial districts, their oc
equations and trades. In California
and Washington the report wher
made, will cover the presence of the
Japanese, Chinese and Hindus.
The commission expects to be able
to report at an early date the effect
of inter-marriage between the natiy,
born and the immigrant and with one
another to determine whether the de
, leterious influence results, or whether
beneficial influences will not be felt.