Lapas attēli
PDF
ePub

physicians and of Boards of Inquiry in doubtful cases, is substantially the same as that followed at sea ports, and similar appeals lie to the authorities in Washington.

The law requiring the steamship companies to return debarred immigrants free of charge to the country of embarkation, has led to a careful medical inspection by the companies at the port of embarkation. This examination is usually made by physicians of the home country employed by the steamship companies, or by the ship's doctor. In the most important ports of Italy-Naples, Palermo, and Messina-by an arrangement between the two countries, special examiners of the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service have been detailed for the work. Tho their reports are unofficial, the companies, of course, always accept them. In other countries and ports the American consul sometimes recommends an examiner, who is paid by the steamship company. In some instances the company has a preliminary examination made at the place of purchase of the ticket before the would-be emigrant leaves his home. These measures are very helpful in preventing needless expense and often great suffering on the part of the emigrant, and they ought to be everywhere adopted.

DIFFICULTIES OF ADMINISTRATION

The enormous difficulties of a just, humane, and still strict enforcement of the law appear when one considers that at the port of New York sometimes 5,000 immigrants are admitted in one day; that it is impossible, in consequence, to give much time to each doubtful case; and that the cases themselves are often of extreme complexity, involving judgment of health,

of character, of purpose, of future promise. Often on account of the defects of a single member, the law commands the separation of a family, or the turning back of all its members from what has been to them a land of promise. At times the rigid enforcement of the law means the public disgrace of one who to his family and the world at large has borne hitherto a good reputation, and whose exposure would seem to work only injury to all. Sometimes even the decision to reject what the law requires, seems little else than the death warrant of the applicant.

For officials vested with such responsibilities, the immigration service should demand and pay for men 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, but extremely important 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 immoral persons and of criminals, both those coming as immigrants and as passengers on our steamers, and especially, perhaps, those coming as alien seamen, with the intention of entering the country by desertion.

The chapter on congestion in our great cities, and still worse in some of our mining and manufacturing centers, makes clear the need of making better provision for the distribution into the smaller towns, and especially into the agricultural districts, of a much larger proportion 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. (As, according to the so-called Gresham's law in the distribution of the monetary circulating medium, a poorer currency tends to drive out a better one, so among the wage-earning classes in any community, as Mr. Mackenzie King has pointed out, a like principle is found.) The wageearners with the lowest standard of living, even tho they are somewhat less efficient, tend strongly to replace the more ambitious workers with higher standards. With their lower ideals they will underbid for employment, and the employers naturally hire the cheaper workmen, even tho, in the long run, the community may be injured.

Such a result is not merely detrimental 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. Along with these restrictive measures, every stimulus should be given, also, 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:

I. 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.

« iepriekšējāTurpināt »