New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-14
TO AID LII MIGRANTS
RIGHT WORK FOR ALL.
Mrs. Quackcnbos Explains
Proposed Bureau System:

When ths bill TO expand the division Of
information OF the United States Immigra-
ton Service into a division Of distribution
and information, introduced In the House
Of REPRESENTATIVES by A. ]. SABBATH, of H.
linois. comes up in the Committee on I'm
migration and Naturalization on Tuesday
Mrs. Mary Grace Quackenbos, New York
lawyer and former special Assistant Attor-
pey General OF the United States who has
had much to DO with the inception OF the
measure, will feel that the country has
taken a long step in the direction OF put
Ing the round immigrant In the round hole
and the square Immigrant III the square
one.
Tine bill has the Endorsement OF many Of
the Congressman" said Mrs. Quackenbos,
ar the Park Avenue Hotel yesterday. just
before starting for Washington in the in
terests Of the measure. In fact, there
can't be any objection TO It. except by pri-
watts employment agencies that are making
money out Of the immigrant. II this thing
gosS through Il will be good for the innrnt-
grant, good for tho West and South, which
need laborers. and good for the congested
seaport cities where now immigrants are
dumped aud remain.
If New York charitable organizations,
paying the rent of the poor in this city and
use 1t instead 10 send people 10 places
where they could get work and pay their
own rent i would be better all around
The plan outlined in the bill now under
consideration was suggested 70 MS
Quackenbos partly by the Central Labor
Exchange in Berlin, which she saw when
she went abroad last year to study the
immigrant on his native heath
L thought Of 1t long ago" she said,
when a. Il lawyer in this city 7 came in
contact with victims of the peonage system
in the South; l saw then the necessity OF .
national government system OF disJribut-
ing Immigrants The Berlin exchange,
which has cooperating bureaus In Munich
and many other German towns. shows ed me
how il could be done.
We are certainly slow in this country.
When 7 was in Germany Mr. Asquith had
agents studying the labor exchanges there,
and similar exchanges are now being es-
tablished in England. while we SIT Down
and let the immigrant problem take care OF
itself The work of the Division OF Infor-
nation OF the Department Of Commerce
and Labor, which used TO be excellent, is
nov much curtailed, and the situation IS
largely in the hands OF private concerns"
The SABBATH bill IS comprehensive, but
Mrs. Quacker hos says the plan Is simple,
ard once established there would be little
danger Of graft In the first place the
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor would
open in the VARIOUS searorts and in all
cities Of more han two hundred thousand
Inhabitants branches Of the division O.
distribution and information. Here bull
Ietins would be displayed, telling labor con-
and e Tatn ID f- GIL
paris of the United Stats
Then these branches would be used as
distributing stations Tor immigrants" said
Mrs. Cuackenbos- And under proper fed
eral supervision they wouldn't do as many
private agencies do-ssnd expert Venetian
maSons. as happened II one instance. 70 Z
place where there's nothing but cotton
picking % 90 I think the matter Of rail-
road fare would settle itself Many irnni-
grants have money fer fare. In many
cases the prospective employer would ad-
vance the fare. TO be gradually repaid by
the ernploye; and states where labor is
scarce win md IT worth while TO put UP
something for the importation of the right
sort OF men
This bill too aims 10 restrict immigra-
tion 81 a sensible wagon the basis Of the
vocation OF the alien and the need in the
United States for people Of thar vocation. -
Agents Of the different nationaIties
would % stationed III these branch houses,
that the immigrants might be dealt with
by their own countrymeh, who understand
their ways. And Mrs Quackenbos hopes
that the Berlin plan, which Includes a
lunchroom where food is sold At low rates
to the joo-seekeTs, bath. hospital and med
ical rooms. free legal bureau and q room
where Boots and clothes are mended for a
few pennies. can he followed IN the United
States labor exchanges, If the SABBATH bill
becomes 4 law.