The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-01-14
DECREASE OF
Immigration
Commissioners Report Shows
80 Per Cent Loss
EMIGRATION FOR YEAR VERY LARGE
Work of Bureau During Past
Fiscal Term Interesting

ton for the fiscal year ended June 20,
1908, the work of the bureau was in
many respects the most comprehen-
sive and interesting ever performed
by it. Despite a decrease of 80 per
cent in immigration, the report shows
that the work of the bureau increased
nearly 20 per cent during the fiscal
year.
The report of F.. II. Larned, deputy
commissioner of immigration, under
whose direction the report was pre-
pared owing to the death of Commits
sioner General Frank p. Sargent, the
year was remarkable for a reduction
of the number of aliens entering the
United States. The total immigration
for the year was 7S2, 87O-502,479 less
than for the year 1907. During the
fiscal year of 1907 1864 aliens were
rejected; during the past year 1881
were rejected.
Net Increase in Population.
BY reason of an amendment to the
law, the report for the first time fur
nishes figures which show approx
mately the net increase in population
by immigration. The figures indicate
that the net increase was 209, 1867. OF
the aliens admitted, 630,671 were be.
tween the ages of IA and Al years.
Of those admitted 1928 could nei-
Their read nor write, and 1910 could
read but not write. Therefore, about
26 per cent were illiterate, a decrease
of 4 per cent in comparison with
1907. The total amount of money
brought into the country by arriving
immigrants was $17,794,226, an av-
erage of almost $23 a person. Dur
ing the year there were turned back
at the ports 10,902 aliens-about 1.3
per cent of the total number APP
plying for admission.
Emigration in 1908.
1t is pointed out that the past year
was abnormal concerning emigration
as well as concerning immigration,
the same reasons which reduce the
latter having operated with perhaps
greater force to increase the former.
The bulk of the aliens came from
Austria Hungary, Greece, Turkey and
the small principalities surrounding
them. Russia furnished GA per cent
OF the total. The report says that
the change in the law extending the
fining provisions to the bringing
of mentally, as we'll as physically dis
eased aliens to the United States, and
placing tuberculosis under the same
ban, is of great benefit. During the
year, 1905 aliens were rejected on
account of physical, 307 on account
of mental, and 81 on account OF NOR
al defects; to which should be added
$40 rejected for minor physical or
mental defects sufficiently grave to
affect ability to- earn a living. The
number of criminals apprehended and
deported increased from IL in 1907
to Al in 1908. To alien anarchists
were refused admission. There was
great activity in the suppression of the
importation of alien women for i'm
moral purposes. OF these women, 124
were rejected; AZ procurers were de-
MED admission; while A alien i'm.
moral women and two pr0curers were
deported from the country; IA pro-
%curers were convicted and sentenced
to a term of Imprisonment and fined.
A systematic campaign vas inaugu-
rated during the year against the i'm
portation of immoral women, and the
results have been gratifying. While
Investigations into the white slave
traffic are difficult, the success attend.
ant upon them has been satisfactory.
Contract Law Effective.
The report shows that the enforce
ment of the law relating to alien con-
tract labor was unprecendently sue
cessful. In the year, 1882 contract
laborers were rejected and 240 were
arrested and expelled from the coun'
try.
The report expresses gratif1cation
with what has been accomplished In
enforcing the presidents proclamation
directing the exclusion of Japanese
and Korean laborers, who, after Sc
curing from their own governments
passports to Hawaii, Canada on
Mexico, used such passports, contrary
to the wishes of their own govern
lments, to obtain entry to the mainland
of the United States. In the course
of the year 1907, 31.79S Japanese
aliens applied for admission to the
United States. In the year 1908. Is,
s41 Japanese aliens applied for ad
mission. OF those applying for ad
, mission in the last year, 1928 wer'
/ admitted.