Semi-weekly herald., 1911-03-06
JAPANESE IMMIGRATION.

JAPANESE I'M NJ lGHA ION.
The following statistics received
from the foreign office of the Japanese
government, show the tendency of
the movement OF Japanese to and
from the continent of the United
States during the calendar years 1908,
1909 and 1910:
During the past three years there
has been decrease of HEP Japa.
neses labOrers in the population of the
United States. The distinction be.
tween laborers and non-laborers is
made from data gathered in Japan at
the time passports are issued In
the case of Japanese returning from
abroad. an arbitrary distinction IS
based upon the passenger lists of yes.
sells. Saloon passengers are classed
as non-laborers, all others as labor
ers 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 annual report OF
the commissioner general of immigra
ton to the secretary of commerce and
labor of the United States, for the fis-
cal year ended June 30, 1910. Under
the head of Japanese immigration, he
says, page 125: ------
1T 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, refer
ring to the operation of the expert
ment in immigration control consti
tuted by the Japanese proviso" to
section | of the act of Feb. 20, 1907,
and the presidents proclamation re-
garding Japanese and Korean labor
ers, skilled and unskilled," of Mar. IA,
1907.
THE experiment has, with the co.
operation of the Japanese government
quite satisfactorily accomplished the
exclusion of Japanese laborers,' as de-
fined in the regulations putting the
arrangement into effect In the report
of 1908 it was pointed out that the
law and the proclamation had been
supplemented by a general under
standing with Japan, contemplating
that the Japanese government shall
issue passports, to continental United
States only. to such of Its subjects
who, in coming to this continent, seek
to resume a formerly acquired domi-
cile, to join a parent, wife or children
residing therein, or to assume active
control of an already possessed inter
est in a farming enterprise located
in this country; SO that the three
classes of laborers entitled to receive
passports became known as former
residents parents, wives or children
of residents and settled agricultur-
ists.' Witt respect to Hawaii, the Jap
anese government, of its own volition,
stated that, experimentally at least,
the issuance of passports to members
OF the laboring classes proceeding to
that territory would be limited to for
mer residents and parents, wives or
children of residents The said gov
eminent has continued to exercise a
careful supervision over the emigra-
tion OF its laboring class to Canada
and Mexico"
The immigration commission Gre
ated by section 39 of the immigration
act Of Feb. 20, 1907, to make full in
quiry, examination and investigation
into the subject of immigra.
tion," states, in its final Conclusions
and recommendations" to the congress
of the United States, page 80:
"In later years japanese lmmigra.
ton assumed considerable proportions
but through n provision of the immi-
grafton law OF 1907, and by agree
ment with the government OF Japan
this movement has been checked. and
during the past two years the number
of japanese leaving the country has
exceeded the number admitted"
On page 80 OF the same report the
following recommendation appears:
The question OF Japanese and Ko
rean immigration should be permitted
to stand without further legislation sc
long as the present method OF restric
tion proves to be effective"
MATSUZO NAGAI,
! Acting Consul General Of Japan.