Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-02
OUR SCHOOLS
Most Important Factors
InAssimiiationof Aliens.
Report Rendered by Special
Congressional Commission.
White Slave Business Decreases
.-.0ther Information.

the work of the joint commission on
immigration which was appointed by
Congress on Feb. 20, 1907, were pre-
scented to Congress today through the
pubiica ton OF a preliminary report by
the commission. This report deals
with practically every phase of the i'm
migration question, including Oriental
aliens and other excluded classes, peo-
mage, charity among immigrants,
white slave traffic, conditions of steer
age, anthopology, congestion in large
cities, alien criminality, competition OF
immigrants, school inquiries, admins
tration of the immigration laws, dis
tribution of immigrants and other
questions.
No conclusions have been reported
by the commission, but the scope of the
work is shown in a manner which
presages extensive legislation in the
future 1t is stated that if the plans
of the commission are realized the va
rious lines of work outside Washington
will be completed in the early fall,
probably by Sept. II.
The entire investigation probably
will be finished during the next fiscal
year The report was printed and cir
culated today to show the necessity
for an appropriation of $25o,000 to carry
on and complete the work. Thus far
the expenses of the commission from
April /, 1907 to Feb. q, 1909, have been
S5447yG. There are at present 1913 per
sons employed under the commission.
Of this number 81 are in Washington,
two in New York, two in San Francis
co, ninety-two are engaged in field
work and twenty in special lines of in
quiry.
The commission says it is generally
admitted by those acquainted with the
subject that, Notwithstanding the fact
that the present law proposes to pro-
tide for the exclusion of every undo
sirahle immigrant, thousands of unde-
niab!y undesirable persons are admit
q each year. 1t has been found that
the law in theory so far as its exclu-
ion provisions are concerned, IS eX-
eptionally strong, but in effect it 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
some effective remedies.
one of the most important features
IF the work is connected with eVasions
of TIL law resulting in the importation
or excluded classes. Notwithstanding
the expenditure of about 100000 an
nually to enforce this law the commits
sion finds that it does not prevent the
coming of Chinese laborers in consid-
cradle numbers. '.-'
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
imported under conditions which
amount to absolute slavery. As the
r, suits OF inquiries and the evidences
it has gathered there has been note
worthy attack upon this business
Nl.ici, has resulted in a very marked
decrease. since the commission hogan
It's work
1t has been found that in numerous
Instances persons afflicted with con-
tagious diseases, and even criminals o:
/ dangerous type. have been able to
evade the immigration laws and come
10 this country under the pretense Of
being -scamen.
The utmost Importance is attached
70 the inquiry being made into the
subject of alien criminality. The
higher criminal courts of New York
ity are at the request of the commits
sion. keeping record in great detail OF
zach person convicted of crime, and
t is intended that q study of foreign
born criminals and criminals of the
second generation will be made in that
lily. The investigation, however, IS
not confined to the larger cities, but is
being carried into smaller centers and
Industrial communities in various parts
If the country.
The most extensive and important
work undertaken by the commission is
the general field investigation into the
economic and social status Of immi-
grants in various sections of the coun-
try. The most important topics being
covered is the race Of employees in
each occupation, years each race has
been employed, hours of work. and dis
for or against immigrants
in employment, wages and housing.
In taking up the congestion of immi-
grants in large cities the commission
is observing communities inhabited
by members of one race, as
- whether the clinging together of
members of the same race handicaps
them in their struggle for advance
'ncnt and prevents their rapid assim-
ii&tiop and AmericaniZation.
a careful inquiry among wage earn
crS who are forced to compete with
labor, is being made among
workers in thestrades and occupations
in which immigrants are largely en-
,saged.
A special field investigation is being
conducted in selected localities in the
south, and it will cover the sentiment
OF legislative bodies as indicated by
legislation enacted affecting iinmlgra-
t1on. Inducements and obstacles to
such as climate. charac-
ter of soil, free or cheap lands. amount
variety and regularity of work
throughout the year, the wages pail
and hour Of employment will be
shown. Information is being gathered
also concerning the employment of
women and children, tine prejudice
against races, the presence or scarcity
of fellow countrynen, church and
school facilities. and a vast amount OF
other information.