United labor bulletin., 1911-03-16
(By John Mitchell. in the American Fed
erationist, October, 1909

(By John Mitchell, in the American Fed
erationist. October, 1907
Certain steamship companies are
bringing to this port many immigrants
whose funds are manifestly inadequate
for their proper support until such time
as they are like ly to obtain profitable
employment. Such action is improper
and must cease. In the absence of a
statutory provision. no hara-and-fast rule
can be laid down as to the amount, of
money an immigrant must bring with
him. but in most cases it will be unsafe
for immigrants to arrive with less than
S25 besides railroad ticket to destina-
ton: while in many cases they should
have more. They must. in addition, of
course, satisfy the authorities that they
will not become charges upon either
public or private charity"
No official bulletin upon the subject
of immigration has attracted more at
tention or caused more discussion than
that issued under date of June IS. 1919,
by the commissioner of immigration at
the port OF New York, from which the
above excerpt is taken. 1t is both in
teresting and significant to observe the
expressions of approval and disapproval
of the principal laid down by Commits
sioner Williams for the guidance OF
prospective migrants and the steamship
companies through whose instrumentality
large numbers of aliens are induced to
leave the countries of their nativity and
seek temporary or permanent homes
upon our shores.
While this article is written from the
standpoint of a wage Garner, the subject
is approached from the viewpoint of an
American, because fundamentally. nc
Government policy can be of permanent
yaiue TO the wage earners. as such that is
not beneficial to our country and all our
pepole. And Il is because high stand
ard OF living and a progressive improve
ment in the conditions of life and labor
among workinEmen are essential to the
prosperity of the whole people that the
wage earners believe in a reasonable and
effective regulation OF immigration
The commissioner AT the port OF New
York. in serving timely notice upon
steamship companies. and indirectly upon
the people of the Old World. that lin
most cases II will be unsafe for immi-
grants to arrive with less than s25 be-
sides railroad ticket to destination" has
laid down a rule that, If followed. will
not only afford some measure OF pro-
lection to American labor. but will also
protect the poor and oppressed of other
countries by lettering them from COM
ing here without adequate means to
enable them to maintain themselves until
such time as they can secure employment
at rate of wages comparable to the
standard prevailing in the trade in which
they seek work.
When it becomes known in the coun-
tries of Europe that it is necessary for
an immigrant to have in his possession
a sufficient amount of money to pay his
own way to the interior OF the United
States and to live until he can secure
work at the prevailing rate of wages.
only such immigrants will seek admis-
sion as are of the better class, and the
danger of lowering the American stand
ard of living will be materially reduced.
1t goes without saying that ii is no ad-
vantage to society when an alien gains
admission to our country and is forced
by his necessities to accept employment