The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-03-02
DECREASE IN JAP
ANESE Immigration

From statistics published by the
consul-general of japan, stationed at
San Francisco, it appears that during
the past three years there has been a
decrease of 11,152 japanese laborers
in the population of the United States.
The distinction between laborers and
non-laborers is made from data gath
cred in Japan at the time passports
are issued. In the case of japanese
returning from abroad, an arbitrary
distinction is based upon the passeng-
are classed at non-laboring, all others
as labors. This method never varies
far from the truth.
Concerning the accuracy of the fore
going figures, it may not be amiss to
quote from the last annua report of
the commissioner general of immigra-
ton to the secretary of commerce and
labor Of the United States, for the fs-
cal year ending June 30, 1910. Under
the head of Japanese immigration, he
says, page l25:
cit is both interesting and crafty
ing to observe how nearly the figures
covering departures from Japan, kept
by the Japanese officials, agree with
those kept by the officials of the bu.
reau, the difference being too slight to
call for particular notice.
Under the same general heading, the
commissioner general says, referring
to the operation of the experiment in
immigration control constituted by the
Japanese proviso" to section / of
the act of February 90, 1907, and the
president s proclamation regarding
Japanese and Korean laborers, skill
ed and unskilled," of March IA, 1907:
"The experiment has, with the CO.
operation of the Japanese government,
quite satisfactorily accomplished the
exclusion of Japanese laborers,' as
defined in the regulations putting the
arrangement into effect. In the re-
port of 1908 it was pointed out that
the law and the proclamation had been
supplemented by a general understand
ing with Japan, contemplating that the
Japanese government shall issue pass
ports, to continental United States
only, to such of its subjects as are non
laborers or are laborers who, in coming
to the continent, seek to resume a
formerly acquired domicile, to join a
parent, wife or children residing there
in, or to assume active control of an
already possessed interest in a farm
ing enterprise located in this country;
so that the three classes of laborers en-
titled to receive passports became
known at former residents, parents,
wives or children of residents and
settled agr~iculturists.' With respect
to Hawaii, the Japanese government,
of its own volition, stated that, ex-
perimentally at least, the issuance of
passports to members of the laboring
classes proceeding to that territory
would be limited to former residents
parents, wives or children of resi-
dents The said government has con
tinued TO exercise a careful supervision
over the emigration of its laboring
class to Canada and Mexico"
The immigration commission created
by section 80 of the immigration act
of February 90, 1907, to "make full
inquiry, examination and investiga
ton into the subject of i'm
migration states in its final econ
illusions and Recommendations to
the congress of the United States,
page 82;
tion assumed considerable proportions,
but through a provision of the immi-
grafton law of 1907, and by agreement
with the government of Japan, this
movement has been checked, and dur
ing the past two years the number of
Japanese leaving the country has ex-
ceeded the number admitted
On page 80 of the same report the
following recommendation appears:
eth question of Japanese and kor-
ear is migration should be permitted
to stam without further legislation so
long III the present method of r~estric-
ton pi YES to be elective
MATSUSO NAGAI,
Acting Consul enerai of ,Japan.