Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-16
IMMIGRATION BUREAU ACTIVE IN
WAR ON OBJECTIONABLE
FOREIGNERS. ::
WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC
SHOWN TO BE ENORMOUS
Bureau Believes Syndicate to Deal in
Human Traffic Exists-Report>sho
Fewer Japs but More Chinese Are
Entering United states-stronser
Laws Dem handed.

s
restriction but merely to make posi-
BILE such restriction as the existing law
intends but has not accomplished, is
the object of a proposed new immigra-
ton law recommended by Daniel J
keefe, the commissioner general OF
immigration, in his annual report for
the fiscal year 1909. It is proposed to
accomplish this by codifying, arrang-
ing in logical sequence and strength
ening at their weak points all existing
laws on the general subject of lmmi j.
grafton and Chlrese exclusion. Some
of the principal suggestions are:
So defining the term "alien" as to
leave no doubt that it includes all
persons not citizens; extending the
contract labor provisions to forbid and
penalize the inducement of immigra-
ton by false as well as genuine prom
ises of employment, penalizing an at
tempt to import foreign laborers, and
permitting the importation of alien
skilled laborers if labor of like kind
unemployed can not be found here
only If the consent of the secretary
of commerce and labor is obtained in
advance; increasing the fine against
steamship companies for taking OH
board dangerously diseased aliens from
500 to 5000.
Mr.. Keefe believes the time is ripe
for the adoption of even stricter meas
ures and suggests that a proposal
worthy of careful thought is that all
male aliens between 16 and 50 be re-
quired to pass a physical examination
equal to that observed for army re-
cruits.
The White Slave Traffic.
Touching the white slave traffic
the report sets out that a special in
vestigation conducted thruout t he
country and the general experience Of
the year, make it apparent that an
enormous business is done in import
ing and distributing foreign women for
immoral purposes, including the seduc-
ton and distribution of alien women
to some extent of American women and
girls. The federal officers have not
discovered positive evidence of the ex-
istence of syndicate for these nefari-
Gus purposes, but there is among those
who conduct the business a certain
esprit de corps. and there are in several
cities clubs and headquarters where
they congregate."
In some cities, it is declared, the traf-
fic is connected with local political
conditions and some Of the municipal
authorities are implicated or otherwise
helpless to assist in eradicating the
evil The federal governments powers.
it is stated, are so limited as to make
it essential if any marked progress is
to be expected that the states and cities
shall awake to the seriousness of the
situation and exercise their undoubted
authority to put down the 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
recommendation are in principle
the same as in the bill which already
has passed the house except that they
do not go so far in the features affect
ing Interstate regulation Of the prac-
tice.
Fewer Japs Admitted.
Is SApISSSi IG-
suit of the experiment in immigration
controf' as affecting the Japanese, con-
stituted by law. proclamations and reg
ulations 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
Japanese were admitted to continental
United States and S.694 to Hawaii.
while for 1909 the corresponding figures
are 245a and .44aa22 The number adj
mitted to the mainland and Hawaii was
only about 20 per cent and II per cent,
o the numbers of 1908.
More Chinese Come.
Contrary to the general impression
Chinese admitted to the United States
have increased during the past four
years and Mr.. Keefe is pessimistic re-
garding the operation of the law. He
concludes that the system of exclusion
and expulsion affodded by it is but lily
adopted for either purpose. He says:
Despite al: 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 officers. however
vigilant they may have been, have
themselves or been smuggled
ashore in seaports as sailors or stow
aways, or have by fraud and perjury
to land in an apparently reg
ular manner. There are doubtless now
in this country at least as many Chin
csc not entitled to residence here as of
the lawfully resident class, and they
have entered in every way that can be
imagined"
AS to occupations 174,800 unskilled
laborers of the immigrant class enter-
ed and 1885 Of the emigrant class
departed OF the 751,7s6 immigrant
aliens who entered the United States
during the year Ss,39s were under II
and 3S.517 were 45 or over; of those