The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-01

special lines of inquiry. The commits
sion says 1t Is generally admitted by
those acquainted with the subject that
Notwithstanding the present law pro-
poses to provide for the exclusion OF
every undesirable immigrant, thou
sands of undesirable persons are adj
mitted each year. 1t has been found
that the law In theory, so far as its
exclusion provisions are concerned. lis
exceptionally strong. but in effect 1t
Is In some respects weak. The COM
mission says 1t has discovered sew
eral sources Of this weakness, and 1t
IS Its purpose to recommend some eff.
fective remedies.
One of the most important features
of the work Is connected with evasions
of the law resulting in the importa-
tion of excluded classes. Notwith-
standing the expenditure of about
S500,000 annually to enforce this law.
the commission finds that 1t does not
prevent the coming of Chinese labor
ers i'll considerable numbers.
An extensive investigation Is being
made into the question Of the impor
tation and harborlng 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 result OF
It's inquiries and the evidence 1t has
gathered, there have been a noteworthy
attack upon this business. which has
resulted in very marked decrease.
1t has been found that In numerous
instances persons afflicted with con-
tagious diseases. and even criminals
of dangerous type, have been able
to evade the immigration laws and
come to this contry under the pretense
of being seamen.
The utmost Importance is being at
tached to the inquiry being made into
the subject Of alien criminalitv. The
higher criminal courts of New York
City are, at the request OF the COM
mittee, keeping records In great de-
tall Of each person convicted of crime,
and it is intended that study of for
eign-born criminals, and criminals of
the second generation shall be 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 most extensive and important
work undertaken by the commission
is the general field investigation into
the economic and social status of i'm
migrants TO various sections of the
country The most important topics
being covered Is the race of employees
In each occupations, years employed.
hours of work, and discrimination for
or against immigrants in employment.
wages and housing.
In taking up the congestion of i'm
migrants In large cities, the commits
sion is observing communities inhabit-
ed principally by members of one race.
as to whether the clinging together
of members Of the same race handi-
caps them in their struggle for ad-
vancement and prevents their rapid
assimilation and Americanization.
A 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.
A special field investigation is con.
! Quoted in selected localities In the
south, and 1t Will cover the sentiment
OF legislative bodies as indicated by
legislation enacted affecting immigra
tion. Inducements and obstacles to I'm
migration, such as climate, character
] OF soil, free or cheap lands, amount
variety and regularity OF work through
out the year, the wages paid and the
hours OF employment, will be shown
Information is also being gathered
concerning the employment of womer
and children, tho prejudice against tho
races, the presence OF scarcity of fel
low countrymen, church and school IA
cilities, and vast amount Of Other
4 information.
The investigation OF oriental immi
grafton has been confined thus far Il
the Rocky mountain and Pacific coas
sections, and special emphasis has
been placed upon the inquiry concern
ing the Japanese without the census
recently ordered In California, the
commission claims they have fairly ac
curate information concerning the
numbers of Japanese in California
their distribution by counties and in
dustrial districts, their occupations ant
trades. In Iowa and Washington the
report, when made, will cover the pres
ence Of Japanese, Chinese and Hindus
The school Is declared by the com
mission TO be the most potent inlu
ence In promoting the assimilation
and Americanization Of the immi
grant. .5l
The real treatment accorded steer
age passengers has been given atten
tion, and members OF the commission
have come from foreign ports In th'
guise OF immigrants, 1t was found tina
the steerage of today Is far better II
many ways than In the past but ther,
is still great room for improvement
-fhe commission expects to be abl
to report at an early date the effec
Of inter-marriage between the nativ
, born and immigrant. and with one
another. to determine whether the de-
eterious influence results, or whethe
} beneficial Influences will not be felt.
: Peonage Is being made the subjec
2 of special inquiry. One OF the mos
} interesting subjects is an investigatio
: being conducted In nearly hundre