Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-28

collected from the steamship companies
by the immigration officials at New York.
The regulations are very strict. All third
class passengers are inspected by Surgeon
II. o. Geddings and Assistant Surgeon NJ.
H. Moster of the United States marine
hospital service before they are allowed to
go on board. and while these inspectors
have no authority to detafn a passenger,
tion Of every person examined and rec
ommend the rejection" of all persons
found to be mentally incompetent diseased
or otherwise unfit to become citizens or to
take care Of themselves. The number re-
jected is usually about : per cent of those
who apply In last February. for exam
pie. out of a total of 15.1O0 third-class
passengers leaving this port, GIL were re-
Jected. and In January out of a total of
1923, 40 were rejected for various causes
The steamship companies are responsible
for the passenger after the inspector has
finished with him, and very often II he will
deposit SUFFICIENT cash to cover his return
fare they will permit a man who has
been rejected to go on the voyage.
Inspector on Every Ship.
The regulations on the boats are very
strict. The Italian government sends an
inspector on every ship at the expense of
the steamship company to look after the
welfare of the third-class passengers and
to see that the stipulations printed upon
their tickets are carried out and the laws
are obeyed. Each third-class passenger
is entitled to a bunk and so many cubic
feet Of space: to one pound OF meat, one
OF vegetables. half a pound Oh bread. one
quart of wine daily. and fish on Friday.
instead of meat, which Is much better
fare than they are accustomed to at nome.
A different inspector Is carried on every
voyage, although the same inspector may
be assigned to the same ship twice in
year. There are both man and woman in
spectors, and the steamship company
never knows who Is to be sent until the
inspector appears aboard. The inspectors
make their reports to the minister of the
interior. who has charge of such affairs
and has the authority to impose fines
upon the steamship officials and even to
prohibit them from carrying passengers
II they violate the regulations.
Nearly one-half of the emigrants from
Italy to the United States In the sprine
Of the year return to their homes in the
fall, remaining in the United States five
or six months: working Tor railway CON
tractors or other large employers of Ia
Dor. and then. when the rush season Is
over, they return to Italy. to remain with
their families during the winter and
spend the money they have saved. Some
OF them come back In September and
October to assist in gathering grapes and
making wine and In reaping the harvests
on the farms. Some of them own or rent
farms OF their own, and come back in
time to assist In the harvest. Only about
50 per cent remain permanently In the
United States. Ordinary laborers can
earn $3.50 q day during the summer
months working on the railroads or as
hodcarriers or In other employments. so
that one months wages will pay their
steamship fare both ways.
Immigrants IN One Year.
During the fiscal year ending June. 1909
2i2.s57 persons left southern Italy for
the United States. and 35.116 northern
Italy. OF these .O67 returned to south
ern Italy and 24.773 to northern italy
during the same year. leaving 122. 143-
not quite one-half of the entire number
as permanent residents of the United
States.
The larger number Of these emigrants
are observation-disclosures who have been over
before and go annually. They have an
understanding with some employment
agency or some padrone or labor con-
tractor for whom they work. and who
notifies them when their services are
needed. The business has been reduced
skill. The padrones, or contractors, col
lect a commission from each Of their en-
ployes.
A large number Of those who go for
the first time are either encouraged or
advised by friends who have had the ex-
perience or are persuaded to make the
trip by agents OF the steamship COM
pany. who Will canvass the villages and
farms OF the interior and receive COM
mission upon every ticket they sell. These
canvassers bring their messengers down
to Naples or take them to Genoa on the