The sun., 1909-06-19
EAB0RtEADEKsTURNEbDOYN''
SECY. NAGEL REFUSES TO ABOL-
ISH POWDERLY'S BUREAU. D.
Commssi sioner.GeneraI OF Immigration
Had Been Won Over and Recon-.
mended Its Abolition, bat the secre-
g tsry Refused and Commended Its W 0rk

y
Had Been Won Over and Recon-.
mended Its Abolition, but the secre-
! tary Refused and Commended Its N ork
WASHINGTON, June 1s.-Secretary Of
Commerce and Labor Nagei to-day turned
down fatty the. recommendations OF
Commissioner. General Keefe Of the i'm
migration service for the practical
abolition OF the division OF information
Of the bureau Of immigration, and in
addition complimented the division on
the work already accomplished. As a
result the division will continue its work
OF taking away unskilled aliens from
oongested centres Of population and
placing them on farms and in rural COM
munitiee.
From the organization Of the bureau
a little more than q year ago ii has met
the opposition OF union labor officials,
although they were never able to ad-
vance very definite reasons for their
opposition. Secretary Straus called a
meeting OF labor leaders in February last
and the work Of the division among other
things was discussed. Samuel Gompers,
president OF the American Federation
Of Labor John Mitchell. one OF the
federation vioe-presidents. and Grand
Chief Stone of the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Engineers spoke In opposi ton
to the division, as did practically the
remainder OF the score or more labor
men present Summed up the opposition
seemed to be based on the idea that in
some way the aliens placed by the divi-
sion might become strike breakers or
that the division might be used as q
strike breaking headquarters. Another
objection was that the work OF the bureau
might lead to increased immigration.
Since the organization OF the division
II has placed about 5000 migrants on
farms and in rural communities. Con-
siderable pressure was brought to bear
on Commissioner General Keefe. who
was formerly the head Of the iongshore-
mems union and an officer OF the Fedora
ton Of Labor, by his labor union asso-
ciates 10 abolish the division and they
won him over. He recommended to the
Secretary the practical abolition Of tho
division. OF which Terence v. Powderly,
former head Of the Kn ghts OF Labor, is
the chief. This recommendation has
been turned down by Secretary Nagel in
the following memorandum given out
to-day, in which he outlines and discusses
Its work:
This committee assumes that the law re-
stricts the division of Information to the
collection and distribution OF information
that may prove useful to immigrants. con-
cludes that the present activities OF the di-
vision are In conflict with this law and di-
rects the discontinuance OF that offtce In
the Maritime Building in New York. To
this cannot give my approval.
I am persuaded that the Interpretation
which has been given this law is too narrow.
While the collection and distribution OF
useful information are specifically men
toned, 1t Ia also provided that it shall be
the duty Of said division to promote bene-
fcial distribution OF aliens admitted into
the United States among the several States
and Territories desiring immigration. This
in my judgment contemplates broader
activity than the Commissioner-Genera
assumes and In this view am supported
by the opinion Of Solicitor Earle, which is
herewith filed,
l cannot resist the conclusion that Con-
gress intended not only to encourage but
70 promote the distribution Of immigrants
beyond the hrst con gested centre OF popu-
jatton into which such immigrants may
have found their way. Any measures cal
culated to further this distribution with
out violating or disturbing established rights
are therefore entitled to consideration and
trial.
Examination OF the work In the division
OF information shows that great care has
been taken to direct immigrants only to
localities and to class Of labor in which a
shortage OF supply is conceded to exist
In other words, essentially only farm labor
and domestic service have been considered
II is dificult TO see how harm can result
from such q policy II carefully pursued
Unless it be held that the division may en-
courage immigrants TO particular localities
only on thu Official request OF the consti-
tuted State authority Of such locality the
division could hardly pursue course differ
ent from that which 1t has adopted. And
II the restricted view 10 accepted and the
New York office Is discontinued 1t goes
without saying that the division itself Is to
all intents and purposes abandoned. The
mere distribution Of printed Information
translated into various languages among
immi grants whom we are removing from
Ellis Island with the greatest possible
despatch can scarcely be said to serve .
practical purpose.
am especially reluctant to make a radi-
cal change at this time because Congress
has provided for an immigration commits
sion. which has been At work for a CON
siderable period OF time and which Is within
less than year ex pected to make an e1 haus-
tive report on the entire subject OF immigrs-
tion. II appears TO me that II would be
unwise to say the least by preciptste action
10 abolish division which within less than
a year may be chosen to be capable of e1-
tended and wholesome influence in the
solving OF one Of our most grave immigra-
ton problems The recommendation is
according gly not approved.
Movements Of Naval Vessels.
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