The San Francisco call., 1909-03-02
STUDY THE: ALIEN
! IN EVERY PHASE
Joint Commission on Immigra-
ton Present PreIim-
< mary Report
Scope of Work Shown for Pur-
pose of Making Further
Investigation Possible

WASHINGTON, March 1.-Some facts
the work sof the joint commission on
immigration, which was appointed by
congress on February 20, 1907, were
presented TO congress today through
the publication Of a preliminary re-
port. This report deals with prac-
tically every phase of the immigration
question, including oriental aliens and
other excluded classes
No conclusions have been reported
| by the commission, but the scope OF
the Work Is shown in a manner which
presages extensive legislation 1t is
stated that If the plans OF the COM
mission are realized the various lines
of work outside Washington will be
completed In the early fall The EN-
tire investigation probably will be fin
ished during the next fiscal year.
APPROPRIATION NEEDED
The report was printed and circu-
lated today to show the necessity for
an appropriation of $250000 to carry
on and complete the work. Thus far
the expenses of the commission from
April 1, 1907, to February 1, 1909. have
been $344.796. There are at present
19s persons employed under the COM
mission. OF this number 50 are in
Washington, two in New York, two in
San Francisco, 92 in field work and 20
In special lines of inquiry.
1t has been found that the law in
theory, so far as exclusion provisions
are concerned. is exceptionally strong,
but in effect it is in some respects weak,
The commission says 1t purposes to
recommend some effective remedies.
!. One of the most important features
of the work is connected with evasions
of the law resulting in the Importation
of excluded classes. Notwithstanding g
the expenditure of about 100000 an
nua1ly to enforce this law, the COM
mission finds that it does not prevent
the coming of many Chinese laborers.
An extensive investigation is being
made into the question of the importa-
ton and harboring OF women for i'm
moral purposes.
ALIEN CRIMINALITY
1t has been found that in numerous
instances persons afflicted with con-
tagious diseases, and even criminals of
dangerous type, have been able TO
land under the pretense Of being sea-
men.
The utmost Importance is attached
to the inquiry made into the subject OF
alien criminality. The higher criminal
courts of New York city are, at the
request OF the committee, keeping de-
tailed records of each person convicted
of crime, and 1t is intended that a
study of foreign born criminals and
criminals of the second generation
shall be made.
The most extensive and important
work undertaken is the general field
investigation into the economic and
social status of immigrants to various
sections Of the country.
STUDY CITY COLONIES
In taking up the congestion Of immi-
grants in large cities the commission
is observing communities inhabited
principally by members OF one race, as
to whether the clinging together OF
members of the same race handicaps
them in their struggle for advance
ment
careful inquiry among wage earn
ers who are forced to compete with
immigrant labor is being made among
workers In the trades and occupations
In which immigrants are largely en-
gagged
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 immigr
tion.
ORIENTALs ON THE COAST
The investigation of oriental immi-
grafton has been confined thus far 10