The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-12-30
RUSH OF IMNIGRANTS
ONLY TEMPORARY
And the Influx Is Not Expected to Al
feet the Labor Market of United
States Very Much.

New York, Dec, 80 Heavy immigra-
tion, which has taxed the facilities of
Ellis Island and delayed unloading of
steamships at this port is only tenn
porary and presages no great influx
of foreigners that will affect the labor
market of the United States, in the
opinion of immigration authorities
here. They estimlted to-day that next
years immigration through New York
will be only 100000 compared with
prewar figures of from 100000 to l.
100000 annually.
Probably so per cent Of recent arriy-
ais are reseryists, mostly ltafians, who
left the United States TO fight for their
native land. Many of them are Amer
lean citizens about whose admission
there is no question. The balance of
the arrivals is composed largely of ia
theirs, mothers, wives and children of
men mostly Poles and -Slovaks,
who came here prior to the war and are
now well established.
The arrivals include large represen-
tation Of native born Americans, who
had been unable TO reach home shores
earlier because of war conditions Some
OF them are from Germany An eyi.
dence OF this is the fact that many ar.
rivals have stamped tickets sold to
them abroad four or FIVE years ago
The character Of the present influx
is considered by Representative Isaac
Seigel, a member OF the House immi-
grafton committee, as higher than ever
before Many of the arrivals have
thousands Of dollars, representing in
some cases the conversion of property
in their native land. The monetary
requirement. for admission i s25 with
the exception Of fathers and mothers
OF residents Of the United States, who
are al least 50 years
All coming to the country for the
first time must pass literacy test by
reading clearly forty words OF English,
usually an extract from the constitu-
tion. Less than two per cent are re-
jected for illiteraey.
One feature Of the operation of the
literacy test is regarded as working
Injustice, however, and reduction to
80 years in the minimum age for il
literate parents is contemplated by the
House committee on immigration, ac.
cording to Mr. Seigel He cites the case
of brothers who immigrated to Boston
years ago, became citizdns and were
worth 100000 when they sent for their
parents The father was 81 years old
and could not read lie was deported.
II il believed that the literacy will
reduce immigration BY 40 per cent upon
which the estimate Of immigration Of
100000 through New York next year
is predicted.
Further indications that the present
inrush is but temporary are the diff
culues in obtaining passports and the
idleness Of other ports Of entry, such
as Charleston, Philadelphia and Balti-
more The wise of an American consul
abroad is necessary on an immigrants
passport So rigorous is this passport
control system and so rushed are the
steamship lines for accommodations for
those fitted to come to this country
that IL is believed in official circles that
many persons besides citizens or rela
tivcs of residents have about one
chance in thousand of immigrating
at present.
This condition has resulted in an ab.
normal number Of stowaways on ships
bound for New York. In one recent
week so stowaways were caught and
deported Besides slowing away the
only other method lone foreigner, un.
related in this country, can immigrate
is to. ship as sailor on vessel bound
for New York and desert when the yes
sci makes port 1t is H. this way, Mr.
Siegel believes, that bolsheviki and
other reds are now coming to this
country, if at all
About 27,00O immigrants came here
in November aud the December figure
was far in excess Of that, but this is
believed to be due to the desire Of
many to spend Christmas or New
Years in the United States.