Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-22
IMMIGRATION.
M-THE IMMIGRATION
COMMISSIONS INVESTIGATION
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

The investigation made by the immigra-
ton commission into all phases OF the
subject of immigration represents the
most thorough and at the same time the
most expensive inquiry into the migration
of mankind that ever has been made.
In 1907 Congress revised the Immigration
laws to some degree. but at the same
time provided for future legislation by
the creation of the immigration commits
sion which it directed to gather the Facts
upon which such new legislation shoulo
he based. The commission was COM
posed of three senators, appointed by the
President OF the Senate. three members
of the House of Representatives, appoint
ed by the Speaker. and three persons APP
pointed by the President. 1t was given
full power to investigate. and at the
same time was supplied with unlimited
funds, the law creating it providing that
such sums of money as may be neces-
sary are hereby appropriated and autho-
rized to be paid out of the immigration
fund
The commission decided to make first
hand investigation rather than to act
merely as a compiler of data already
gathered IL investigated every possible
phase of the question in Europe and
America. going with the utmost care into
the whole question of the causes and
effects of immigration both at home and
abroad. Upward of three years was con-
stunned in the inquiry, and as a result a
report covering forty-twO volumes. or
practically 5000 octave pages, has been
published. II is such monumental work
that it Is doubtful if anybody will ever
read II from a to Il. However. it has
a two-volume abstract and index which
digest the whole report, although there
are many things in the full report that
are. of course referred to only in the
briefest way in the big abstract.
The commission did not finish It's work
until within a half-hour of the time the
law required that the report should be
filed Representative William S. Ben
net of New York desired to file minority
report. but declared he was prevented
from so doing by the fact that the ma
iority report was formulated too late to
permit any elaboration as to his views
and conclusions.
During its life the commission spent
S1:n.GU1 in it's Investigations. There were
quite a few criticisms at the time con-
corning the long-drawn-out character of
the investiSat ton and the unusual eX-
pense incurred. but considering the thor
oughness with which the work was done.
much of this criticism probably was not
deserved.
%s2s
grafton conditions in Europe six of the
nine men,
Question Is Studied bers. accom-
in Foreign Countries. iarrs staff
went to Europe in May and stayed until
September They visited Italy. Austria
Hungary. Finland. Greece. Turkey and
practically all other European countries
.-it 6inlOmatic
consular representatives. holding con-
ferences with European emigration au-
thorities and going out through the i'm
migrant furnishing distrits. they stud
led carefully the causes of emigration
and its effects upon the countries whence
the immigrants come.
In studying the relations between the
immigrant and various American indus
tries use was made of a large corps Of
investigators.
Data was gathered from the individual
immigrant, the household of the immi
grant the employers of immigrants and
from local officials. organizations and in
situations For instance. in gathering
informatiO concerning immigrants in
iron and steed industries. detailed infor-
nation was received from $1,000 employ
es and an intensive study was made of
which We're employed in these industries.
The number Of Immigrants of each ma
tionality, the number of their children
and the number of native Americans en-
gagged IN the industries was ascertained.
The occupations of the immigrants en-
gagged in iron and steel manufacturing
before they came to America were in
Vestigated. while the weekly wages. the
lost time. the average annual earnings,
the family income. rents paid. number
of people per sleeping room, home owner
ship citizenship. labor organization al
fiations, illiteracy and many other mat
tiers were inquired into.
Some of the Investigations of the COM
mission We're put to immediate and prac-
teal use. Its agents who investigated
steerage conditions on transa tlantic pas
senger ships were able to pick up pieces
OF information which, reported to the
bureau of immigration, took the form of
recommendations that abuses within the
law would better be remedied by the
steamship companies. The same was
true of its investigation of the immi-
grant aid societies and homes. With the
Information placed in the hands of Com
missioner Williams at Ellis Island steps
We're promptly taken to debar a number
of MISSIONARIES from the island and to
require the immediate correction of con-
ditions complained of by several socie-
ties and homes.