The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-12-28
In Annual Report of Secretary of Labor and
Commerce is Devoted to Discussion of Hard
ships Imposed by Present Laws---More
Strict Regulation of Steamer Compan-
les is Urged---Deals Briefly With
White Slaue Traffic

By Associated Press.
Washington, d. c., Dec. 2S.-Secre
tary Nagel's annual report, sent to the
president Tuesday, contains many i'm
portant recommendation for changes
and improvements in the various bu
reaus and branches of the department
of commerce and labor.
Great popular interest attaches tc
the immigration and naturalization OF
aliens, and much of the secretary's
report is devoted to that subject.
One of the hardships of the present
immigration laws, Secretary Nagel
believes, is the separation of families
In many instances father is admitted
and his wife and children are barred
out after the pioneer has made a home
The secretary believes that a more
equitable system could be found, and
says he assumes it is the purpose of
the law to keep families together and
not to separate them. The secretary
suggests that some system by which
inquiry should be made about the
families immigrants before fathers
and sons are admitted, should be put
into practice
Unless immigration can be diverted
from Ellis Island or reduced, there is
need for additions to the facilities
there At no port is there any ade-
quate provision for handling immi-
grants, declares the secretary, al
though at most places sites have al
ready been bought by the government
for buildings to be used for these pur-
poses.
Stricter regulation Of steamship
companies in the immigrant traffic is
urged in the report and a system of
fines for companies which bring in
sane immigrants or those afflicted with
diseases is proposed. The
secretary declares that the immigra-
ton officials even find it unwise to
allow alien employees of steamships to
land on American soil without apply
ing the usual examination to them.
While the fiscal year 1910 brought
a total of 1,19S,097 immigrants to the
United States, the prediction is made
that the coming year will approach
the banner year 1907 when more than
l ,2S5,000 aliens came in. OF all those
who came this year more than 274,000
admitted they had been assisted by
friends. All the immigrants brought
a total of $28,197,745 with them, a per
cepita of about $27. The bulk of the
continues to be drawn
from southern and eastern Europe.
Two per cent of all who applied for
admission were turned back. They
numbered 24,27O in all as against
l0,411 in 1909. Though no increase in
attempts to import contract labor is
apparent, 1,7OO aliens were deported
as such during the year. Stricter leg
Station to govern that class of immi-
grafton is recommended.
Secretary Nagel refers briefly to
1iolations of the white slave law and
ieclares that immigration officials are
lble to cope with only a fraction of
he violations. If the traffic is to be
stamped out, he says, the state and
must take a more ac-
i've interest.
Promotion of employees by merit
md not entirely by scholastic examin-
Ltion is treated at length by Secretary
Jagel who believes scholastic exam
nation may be proper when an appli-
ant enters the government service.
The conditions within the service,
Iowever, he thinks, call for an en-
irely different test for promotion.
Employees work under the direc-
ion and observation of chiefs of bu-
eaus and divisions and their capacity; |
Efficiency and resourcefulness are
judged by them" says the secretary.
In the final analysis their rights to
dvancement should be wholly deter
lined by the opinions of these super
Using officials, provided such opinions
re well informed, judicious and con
reached"
Secretary Nagel puts himself on
ecord in favor of some sort of super
or retirement for clerks. He
elieves compulsory retirement for