Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-16
LAW DOESN'T INTEND FURTHER
RESTRICTION OF Immigration.
New Statute Recommended Would Make
Possible Such Restriction as Present Law
lntends-==Many Chinese Are Here llle=
galIy==-Bulk from Southern Europe.

| ers. it is stated, are so limited as to
make it essential if any marked prog
ress is to be expected that the States
and cities shall awake to the serious
ness of the situation and exercise their
undoubted authority to put down tie
evil.
During the year there was marked
increase in deportatiOns as a result of
the campaign against the traffic. The
provisions on this subject in the bill
submitted by Mr.. Keefe to carry out
his recommendations are in principle
the same as in the bill which already
has passed the House except that they
Go not go so far in the features affect
ing interstate regulation of the prac-
ticee.
Qualification is expressed as result
of the "eXperiment in immigration con-
troll as affecting the japanese, con-
stituted by law. prcclamations and
regulations following the anti-Japanese
agitation in California several years
ago.
There has been a material reduction
in both the number of japanese ad-
mitted and deported. In 1908, 9,544 Jap
auese were admitted to continental
United States and 1904 to Hawaii,
while for 1909 the corresponding figures
are 2.432 and 1,493. The number ad-
mitted to the mainland and Hawaii
was only about IS per cent. and II per
cent, respectively, of the numbers for
1903.
Contrary to the general impression
Chinese admitted to the United States
have Increased during the past four
years and Mr.. Keefe is pessmstic re-
garding the operation of the law. He
concludes that the system of exclusion
and expulsion afforded by it is but idly
adopted for either purposes. He says:
Despite all that is said and all that
is done, the Bureau is always confident
at the close of any year that many
Chinese of the excluded classes have
evaded the border of officers, however
vigilant they may have been, have
struggled themselves or been struggled
ashore in seaports as sailors or stowa-
ways, or have by fraud and perjury
managed to land in an apparently reg
ular manner. There are doubtless now
in this country at least as many Chi
nese not entitled to residence here as
of the lawfully resident class, and they
have entered in every way that can be
imagined"
| 1t is urged that the exclusion laws be
merged into the general immigration
law, so that the administrative process
of expulsion therein provided may be
fused.
There are also a number of other re-
concentrations which the Commission
er says may be considered revolution
airy. but are regarded as necessary il
the law is to be effective and satisfac-
tory.
During 1909, 6,393 Chinese We're reg,I-
larlv admitted against 4,624 in 1908. 3.
255 In 1907 and 2.732 in 1906. The worst
feature the Commissioner says is that
the increase is almost confined to clas-
SEES and members of which are or soon
become laborers and whose residence
here violates the spirit of the law.
Immigration, which during 1909, fei
OFF from the two previous years. the
Commissioner says. is reassuming nor
mai proportions. The months of Jan
uary to June 1909 however showed in
creases over the same months of 100
which is attributed by the Commits
sioner principally to the fact that thos
interested in steerage passenger carry
ing have traded upon and magnifiet
beyond all reasonable limits the i'm
pr@vement in industrial conditions t,
encourage emigration.
AS to occupation 174.S00 unskilled la
borers of the immigrant class ente-e,
and llS,sSS of the emigrant class aepar
ted. OF the 751.7S6 immigrant alien
who entered the United States durin,
the year SS.S93 were under IA and 1857
We're As or over; of those over 10 year
of age 1a1.049 could neither read no
write an increase in the ratio of Hitter
racy of % per cent. as against &c pc
cent in zoos. For various reasons 10.
- 'pslIodsp slsM sueae IT