cision to reject what the law requires, seems little else than the death warrant of the applicant. With such responsibilities carried always with the welfare of the whole people in mind, the immigration service should demand and pay for officials of ability, training, and the highest character. XVII REMEDIES Few New Laws Needed From the discussion in the preceding chapters it appears that in many directions our immigration laws are satisfactory, and are administered with a satisfactory degree of efficiency. On some few matters, however, further legislation or some changes in the administrative methods seem desirable. It appears from the investigations of the Immigration Commission, as has been stated in preceding chapters, that the health of our country is fairly well protected along all lines affected by immigration, with the exception of the diseased alien seamen, who, owing to the laxity of our laws regarding the inspection of seamen, frequently bring contagious or loathsome diseases into this country. There seems little need of further legislation to exclude paupers or those likely to become a public charge. The present rather rigid enforcement of the laws as shown by the customs regarding certain classes of immigrants, such as the Hindus, who are held likely to become public charges, not so much because they are physically or mentally weak, but because of the race prejudice against them-is likely to prevent any serious danger from this source. On the other hand, it seems desirable that more effective measures be taken to prevent the further admission of criminals, both those coming as immigrants and passengers on our steamers, and especially, perhaps, those coming as alien seamen, with the intention of entering the country by desertion. Efforts should be made to secure the better distribution of the immigrants. INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS DEMAND RESTRICTION Of far greater importance, however, than any legislation along these lines is the necessity of further restriction on account of our present industrial conditions. As has clearly appeared from the preceding chapters, the great increase of immigration of late years has been such that there has been beyond doubt a strong tendency toward the lowering of the standard of living of our industrial laborers. Such a result would be detrimental not merely to our own people, but any lowering of the standard of living in this country could not fail to have a depressing effect in other sections of the world. It is, therefore, extremely desirable that this result be prevented; and the easiest and most effective way of guarding against this evil seems to be the adoption of further restrictions upon immigration, even tho it may not be necessary that such restrictions be maintained for any great length of time. Joined with these restrictive measures should be given, also, every stimulus to the forces which tend toward the better assimilation of the immigrant. Recommendations of the Immigration Commission As a recent brief summary of the main points which should be considered in the way of further legislation, there are printed here the recommendations of the Immigration Commission: MAJORITY REPORT Principles of Legislation As a result of the investigation, the Commission is unanimously of the opinion that in framing legislation emphasis should be laid upon the following principles: 1. While the American people, as in the past, welcome the opprest of other lands, care should be taken that immigration be such both in quality and quantity as not to make too difficult the process of assimilation. 2. Since the existing law and further special legislation recommended in this report deal with the physically and morally unfit, further general legislation concerning the admission of aliens should be based primarily upon economic or business considerations touching the prosperity and economic well-being of our people. 3. The measure of the rational, healthy development of a country is not the extent of its investment of capital, its output of products, or its exports and imports, unless there is a corresponding economic opportunity afforded to the citizen dependent upon employment for his material, mental, and moral development. 4. The development of business may be brought about by means which lower the standard of living of the wage-earners. A slow expansion of industry which would permit the adaptation and assimilation of the incoming labor supply is preferable to a very rapid industrial expansion which results in the immigration of laborers of low standards and efficiency, who imperil the American standard of wages and conditions of employment. CRIME The Commission agrees that, I. To protect the United States more effectively against the immigration of criminal and certain other debarred classes (a) Aliens convicted of serious crimes within a period of five years after admission should be deported in accordance with the provisions of House bill 20980, Sixty-first Congress, second session. (b) Under the provisions of section 39 of the immigration act of February 20, 1907, the President should appoint commissioners to make arrangements with such countries as have adequate police records to supply emigrants with copies of such records, and that thereafter immigrants from such countries should be admitted to the United States only upon the production of proper certificates showing an absence of convictions for excludable crimes. ALIEN SEAMEN (c) So far as practicable the immigration laws should be so amended as to be made applicable to alien seamen. ALIEN PAUPERS SHOULD BE DEPORTED (d) Any alien who becomes a public charge within three years after his arrival in this country should be subject to deportation in the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. WHITE SLAVES 2. Sufficient appropriation should be regularly made to enforce vigorously the provisions of the laws previously recommended by the Commission and enacted by Congress regarding the importation of women for immoral purposes. STEERAGE 3. As the new statute relative to steerage conditions took effect so recently as January 1, 1909, and as the most modern steerage fully complies with all that is demanded under the law, the Commission's only recommendation in this connec |