The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-20
WILL CLOSE DOOR
ON IMMIGRATION
~. S. Has About Reached the
Limit of Its Assimilative
Capacity Now.
Especial Cable from the International
News Servicc.)

~ JONATHAN WINFIELD.
Washington, Feb. 1s.-That further
checks are to be placed on immigra.
ton, and that the open door" at Ellis
Island will become more or less a
closed door, If restrictive legislation
3s enacted. IN evidenced In the report
and recommendation of the immigra-
ton commission recently submitted to
congress.
The United States has nearly reach.
ed the limit OF It's assimilative capac.
ity. SO far as caring for the millions
constituting the cheap labor market
OF Europe are concerned. Mighty as
n liz, II can no longer welcome these
foreign hordcs without grave peril 10
itself. The immigration commission
has outlined "a restrictive program
conservative, and yet effective.
II believes that drastic measures
shall be undertaken to protect the
United States against criminal and
other undesirable classes. Aliens
convicted Of a serious crime within
period OF five years after admission
should be dcportcd Il recommends;
the president should appoint commits
such countries as have adequate po-
lice records TO supply cmigrants with
copies of such records. and that there
after immigrants from such countries
should be admitted TO the United
States only upon the production of
proper certificates showing an alb!
sence OF convictions for crimes; any
alien who becomes public charge
within three years after his arrival In
portation. AT the discretion of the Sec
rotary OF commerce and labor.
What Commission Did.
The commission has paid careful
attention to the subject of protecting
the immigrant against exploitation:
OF discouraging him in his habit Of
sending his savings abroad: of en-
couraging him In gaining permanent
residence and naturalization in the
United States.
The better distribution of alien i'm
migrants throughout the country is
imperative believes the commission.
One OF tho means to accomplish this
purpose. according to the commission
IN for the states to enact laws regulat-
ing immigrant banks and employ
mcnt agencies. Aliens who make IL
their business TO keep immigrants
from Influences which may tend to-
wards their assimilation and natural
fzation as American citizens should
be subject to deportation. A far
reaching system of information for
immigrant settlers should be cstab-
lished The general policy of exclud-
ing Chinese laborers should be con-
tinued, and tho question of Japanese
and Korean legislation should be per-
mttted to stand so long as the present
method of restriction proves to be ef-
fcGtivc.
The commission makes this impor-
tant finding:
Our investigations show an over.
supply OF unskilled labor In basic in
dustrics to an extent which indicates
an ovcrsupply OF unskilled labor in
the industries of the country as
whole, aud therefore legislation is
necessary which will at the present
time restrict the further admission of
such labor. II is desirable that
SUFFICIENT number be debarred TO pro-
duce marked effect upon the present
supply Of such unskilled labor"
Some Of Methods.
Among the methods of restricting
immigration outlined by the commits.
sion are the following:
The exclusion OF those unable to
read or write In some language; the
Limitation OF the number of each race
arriving each year to certain per-
centage of the average of that race
arriving during a given period of
years: the exclusion OF unskiiled Ia
borcrs unaccompanied by wives or
families: limitation of the number of
immigrants arriving annually at any
port: material increase In the amount
OF money required to be I'm the posses
sion OF the immigrant at the port of
arrival: material increase OF the head
tax; levy Of the head tax SO as to