gration, and that, therefore, it is desirable that by some wisely effective method we restrict such immigration.

ASSIMILATION AND DISTRIBUTION

This in no way contradicts the belief on the part of many that every effort should be made to promote assimilation of the immigrants and the distribution of immigrants from our overcrowded overcrowded industrial centers to the rural districts. Both classes of activities are necessary, if we are to promote our best interests. When we have finally thoroughly organized our assimilative and distributive relief measures, it is possible that no further restrictive measures will be needed; but for the time being, at any rate, there is no doubt as to their necessity.

LITERACY TEST

Regarding specific measures of restriction little need be said. A majority of the Immigration Commission favored the reading and writing test as the "most feasible single method" of restricting undesirable immigration. This is the only measure that has heretofore met with the approval of both houses of Congress. In one instance it has passed both houses, altho vetoed by President Cleveland; and in other instances it has passed either one house or the other. On that account it seems more generally acceptable than any other test. It seems probable, also, that altho this might in many individual instances work hardship, it would not be more likely to work hardship than any other restrictive measure. Any general legislation is certain in individual cases to result in hardship.

DISCRIMINATING HEAD TAX

The suggestion made by the Immigration Commission that a discriminating head tax might be levied in favor of men accompanied by their families, was intended to place a check chiefly upon those persons who come here with the intention of remaining but a short length of time, then returning to their home countries to invest their savings. This test, again, would doubtless result in many individual cases in the exclusion of thrifty men who have come here to make a home with the intention of bringing their families within two or three years. But here, again, this hardship might well be offset by the greater benefit of the exclusion of the classes that from the industrial view-point alone are the less desirable.

RESTRICTION TO FIXT NUMBER

The suggestion made that it might be possible to limit the "number of each race arriving each year to a certain percentage of the average of that race arriving during a given period of years," has a certain element of apparent fairness in it which makes it of interest. If for the time being we overlook the restriction placed upon the immigration of the oriental races, it would seem that all other races are presumably coming into this country in about their normal proportions, and any restriction which would apply closely to them by cutting off, say, 25 per cent. of the average number that has arrived annually during the last ten years, would be perfectly just. Some have thought, also, that a law passed in this form, by making no discrimination in name against any race, would meet the objections of the Chinese

to the present Chinese Exclusion Act. The Chinese Government now does not care particularly to have its laboring classes come to this country, but it does object to having its citizens selected by name, when other nations are not so mentioned, inasmuch as it seems to imply a degree of undesirability on the part of members of that race greater than that which applies to others. Inasmuch, however, as the Chinese and Japanese have been, within the last few years, positively discriminated against, such a law if passed now would simply continue that discrimination, with, however, the removal of the discrimination by name.

There is certainly much to be said in favor of such a measure, as a positive measure of restriction. The Government could determine with almost absolute accuracy just the number of people that would come in.

On the face of it it makes no discrimination against any particular race.

It would apparently continue, relatively speaking, the normal proportion of immigrants from the different countries.

As soon as the number were positively known in advance, the steamship companies would doubtless readjust their sailings and accommodations in such a way as to prevent serious hardship, as at first thought might seem to be brought upon them by the passage of such a law.

On the other hand, there is nothing in this law which would tend to make a selection in the character or quality of the immigrants, such as seems to be in part at least brought about by either the illiteracy test or a test of the discriminating head tax..

Discrimination in this respect is of exceedingly great importance. Presumably, if Congress passes any legislation within the next few years-and it is very desirable that some restrictive legislation be passed at once -the illiteracy test is the one, as the Commission has intimated, that is the most feasible and the most likely to be put into effect.