The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-16
THE NEW ANfERIcA.

STATISTICS originating dt lue IeOerdl
immigration station show that more
persons are leaving the United States
for foreign countries than are coming
in. 1t may be noted in this connec-
ton that following the sailing of the
Buford for, Russia, deportation of
aliens came to a sudden end. Posi-
bly, the government has reached the
conclusion that it is cheaper to per-
NIT aliens to deport themselves.
Legislation appears to have been
effective in restricting immigration as
well as in increasing emigration. II
this policy continue who will do the
work?
The immigration bill passed Febru-
airy 8. 1917, raised the poll tax to IS,
and thru the passage of a literacy
test reduced ~ 25 per cent the NUM-
Der of workers who could come to this
country. Now comes a department
recommendation to charge a fee of So
from and after the first day of May,
1890. for each wise of the passport of
an alien and 81 for each application
of an alien for a wise. This makes
total of SIS, which for some of the
races on whom America depends for
labor means an exorbitant sum at the
present rate of exchange. For exam
pie, the Polish anN old Austro Hun
garian peoples will have to pay nearly
twenty times as much as the immi-
grant used to pay previous to the war
for his passage to the United States.
If to this amount be added the trans
portation fees charged at present, the
immigrant from Poland or Lithuania
, or the Baltic provinces would bring
the amount up~to the equivalent of
1888 today. For this amount of mon
ey, a man can buy a home or a farm
in Poland, or other countries of Eu-
rope.
! Further it is suggested IN this act
that it shall be unlawful for any citi-
zen or person owing allegiance to or
| entitled TO the protection OF the
United States. or any person who has
resided in the United States three
years and has declared his intention
to become a citizen of the United
! States to depart from the United
! States for any foreign country except
Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Bermuda and
the Bahama Islands, or by way of
these excepted countries to a foreign
country, thru the possessions of the
United States or otherwise, or to de-
part from said possessions for any for
eign country except Panama and
those hereinbefore excepted unless he
bear q valid passport. OF the immi-
grafton in Canada in 1919, out of
117.s8s immigrants America contrib
uted 1914, who took cash and prop
erty amounting to sfs,419,406 with
| them.
The commissioner of immigration
recently issued a statement that the
amount of immigration to America
was equal if not greater than the
amount of emigration from America
The inference--was made that the
shortage of labor is not due to emil
grafton. An analysis of the last fig
ures issued by the bureau of immigra-
ton for the sea-going months of July
to November. 1919, show that 124.97o
immigrants came in and 107,90S went
out, leaving a balance in our favor OF
1902. The races with the heaviest
numbers coming in we're English
(2S.5s9), French (11.70s), southern
Italian (14.691), and Mexican 19..
456). The first two contribute very
little to unskilIed labor. the Mexican
met q local shortage in Texas and the
border states, and three times as many
italians (4s.47s) left the country a.
came in. Studying the fifteen races
that furnish unskilled labor in oui
manufacturing states. it is found thar
in these five months 2s.7s1 came into
the country, while 1920 went out