The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-03-04
IMMIGRATION
LAW IS WEAK
COMMISSION PRESENTS RE-
PORT SUGGESTING WAYS TO
KEEP OUT UNDESIRABLES
Every Phase of Question Studied by
Bureau, Which Asks Sup
port.

ing character OF the work OF the JOnt
commits sion on hmm: grafton, which
was appointed by Congress on Feb.
20, 1907, were presented to Congress
Monday through the publication OF a
preliminary report by the commission
THIS report deals with practically
every phase of the immigration, in
GLIDING oriental aliens and other eX-
Guided classes, peonage, charity
among immigrants, white slave traffic
conditions of steerage, anthropology,
in large cities, alien GRIM
.nality, competition of immigrants,
school inquiries, administration OF the
laws, distribution OF inn
migrants and other questions.
No conclusions have been reported
by the commission, but the scope OF
the work is shown in a manner which
pressage extensive legislation in the
future II is stated that if the plans oil
the commission are realized, the Lines
of work outside of Washington will
be completed in the early fall, prob
ably by Sept 15 The entire investiga-
tion will be probably finished during
the next fiscal year The report was
printed and circulated today to show
The necessity for an appropriation OF
S250,000 10 carry on and complete the
work. Thus far the expense OF the
commission from April l. 1907, to Feb
y, 1909 have been 1914, 1896 There are
at present 1913 persons employed un-
der the commission. OF this number
eighty-two are in Washington, two
IN New York. two in San Francisco,
are engaged in field work
and twenty in special lines of inquiry
Law Weak in Operation.
The commission said it is general
y admitted by those acquainted with
he subject that, Notwithstanding the
fact that the present law proposes 10
provide for the exclusion OF every
undesirable immigrant, thousands OF
lndeniably upde sirable persons are
admitted each year Ii has been found
that the law in theory as far as It's
exclusion provisions are concerned,
5 exceptionally strong, but in opera
ton it rs in some respects weak and
Intellectual The commission says il
pas discovered several sources OF this
and it is its purpose to find
the others to recommend some effect
i've remedies
One OF the most important features
of the work is connected with eva
sions OF the law resulting in the inn
oortat;on OF excluded classes. Not
outstanding the expenditure OF abou;
100000 annually to enforce this law,
The commission finds that it does not
prevent the coming OF Chinese labor
-rs in considerable numbers.
Has Lessened White Slave Traffic
An extensive investigation 5 beng
made into the question OF the impor-
tation and harbor:ng OF women for
purposes. The results SHOW
that many women are being constant
y imported under conditions which
mount to absolute slavery rs the
-esults OF its inquiries and evidences
t has gathered there has been note
worthy attack upon this business
which has resulted in a very marked
decrease since the commission began
rs work
1t has been found that in numerous
instances persons afflicted with con-
.agious diseases and even criminals OF
4 dangerous type, have been able to
evade the immigration laws and come
to this country under the pretense
81 being seamen.
Importance is attached to the in
quiry being made into the subject of
alien criminality The higher criminal
courts of New York city are, at the
request OF the commission, keeping
-ecords in great detail of each person
convicted OF crime, and it is intended
hat a study of foreign born criminals
and criminals OF the second genera
ion will be made in that city. The in
vestigation, however. is mot confined
o the larger cities. but is being car
ried into smaller centers and indus
rial communities in various parts OF
he country.
Keeping Tab on Orientals.
The information of oriental immi-
grafton has been confined thus lar 10
the Rocky Mountains and Pacific
coast sections and special emDhaSi