Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-03-10
IMMIGRATION
is DISCUSSED
Several Hearings Before Con-
gresham HOWeII's Commit
tee--Vote tuesday.
WHAT E. C. STOKES SAID
tFrom the NEWS Correspondent,

| tFronl the NEWS Correspondent
Washington, March 10:-Hear-
/ ings on the general subject If immi-
| grafton have been going on before
! the committee on immigration and
naturalization, Of which Representa-
tive Howell, Of New Jersey, is the
chairman, all this week. T. ].
Brooks, representing the Farmers
National Union, with a membership
OF more than three million farmers,
appeared before the committee on
Tuesday. He declared that the farm
ers were opposed to the immigra-
tion OF so many undesirable aliens.
and favored the enactment of laws
for the further restriction of immf-
grafton. Yesterday A A. Roe. the
legislative representative for the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Engt-
neers, Firemen and Trainmen, ap-
peared before the committee and
said that the allied organizations
which he represented were favorable
to the further restriction of immi-
grafton.
1t is expected that on Tuesday of
next week the committee will vote
on the proposed raising Of the head
tax from 81, and on the education
test, as advocated by Representative
Gardner, of Massachusetts. Repre-
sentative Hayes, of California. has a
similar bill before the committee.
but with the provision that aliens
must be registered after having been
in this country for a year, and IL
they fail to register they may be
subject TO deportation by the immi-
ganizations of foreigners through
out the country are bitterly opposed
to both the bill and this proposition.
In giving his opinion on the gem
eral subject of immigration when
governor of New Jersey about three
years ago, Edward c. Stokes, of
Trenton, had this to say:
Under present conditions the de-
mand for labor in the various fields
of activity is so great that it cannot
be supplied by our own people alone
and desirable immigration seems to
be necessary to aid in the develop
ment Of our resources and indus
tries. We have in the southern part
of the state several Jewish and Ital-
ian colonies that have been very sue
eessful in agricultural development
and have made excellent citizens.
At Woodbine there is an agricultural
college aided by Baron de Hirsh,
which is doing most excellent work
in theoretical, experimental and
practical agriculture
Foreign immigration brings
troubles In its wake Our courts
and our prisons are unfortunate wit
nesses to the truth of this statement.
1t is probable, however, that this un-
fortunate feature of our immigration
is due to the lack of knowledge of
the part of our immigrants, of our
laws and institutions and to the fact
that they are not properly looked af-
ter by state and municipal authori-
ties. They are very apt to fall into
the hands of sharps who regard
these newcomers as their legitimate
prey. In view of this situation, New
Jersey has taken a step, which, we
think, will greatly remedy the ills
of immigration and will set the pace
for other states to follow
I'm 1906 the Legislature adopted
concurrent resolution authorship
the governor to appoint a commA
sion of three persons, residents of
the state, to inquire into and report
upon the general condition of i'm
migrants coming into or resident
within the state. That commission
reported that foreigners coming to
this country were absolutely depend
ent upon each other to obtain
knowledge of the conditions sur
rounding their lives in the home of
their adoption: that there was no
way for the foreigner to learn the
laws Of this country, his rights and
privileges or duties as a citizen until
he could speak English. Many OF
them learned the laws by breaking
them
ITO remedy this unfortunate con-
dition the state has appropriated the
sum of $4,000 to begin the work
of educating the immigrant Pamph-
lets on the history and principles of
the United States and the govern
ment will be printed in English and
every foreign language as may be
necessary TO reach the foreign ele-
ment. Night schools will also be es-
tablished in different centers
throughout the state for the study of
the English language and civil gov
ernment, This is but a beginning,
and it is hoped that the results will
prove so beneficial as to warrant the
establishment of a permanent poll
icy for the enlightenment of the for
eign population"