LIST OF TABLES. TABLE 1. Total immigration to Canada from July 1, 1900, to Mar. 31, 1909, by race or nationality. Page. 611, 612 2. Total immigration to Canada, 1901-1909, by specified countries or 612 5. Total immigrants admitted and rejected under Canadian and United 4. Emigration from the United States to Canada, July 1, 1906, to 3. Occupation of immigrants to Canada, including accompanying 613 617 623 6. European immigrants, including Syrian, admitted and rejected 7. The "net immigration" to Australasia for the five decennial periods 624 632 10. Immigration to and emigration from the Argentine Republic, 1871 8. Immigration to Argentine Republic, 1863 to 1908, by nationality.. 640 641 641 11. Immigration movement to Brazil, 1820 to 1907, by nationality.. 645, 646 646 THE IMMIGRATION SITUATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES. PART I. CANADA. Canada affords an interesting example of a country with a definite immigration policy and an immigration law admirably adapted to the carrying out of that policy. The Dominion desires immigrants who will aid in developing the newly opened agricultural regions of the West, but the coming of those whose purpose it is to settle in cities and towns is discouraged. The policy of the government in this respect is officially expressed as follows: " 1. Money is expended and administration is exercised with the object of securing immigrants whose purpose in life is to occupy farm lands, either as owners, tenants, or laborers. 2. Money is voted and administration is exercised with the object of excluding those whose presence in Canada would tend to add to the congestion of towns and cities. In pursuance of this policy organized effort is made to secure immigrants from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, and in such of these countries as permit the promotion of emigration to a foreign country Canada conducts a propaganda for the purpose of inducing or directing emigration to the Dominion. THE PROPAGANDA IN EUROPE. Salaried agents of the Canadian immigration department are stationed in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, York, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Belfast, Exeter, Dublin, Paris, and Antwerp, and under their direction an extensive advertising campaign is carried on. Officially prepared circulars in several languages, setting forth the inducements offered by Canada to agricultural immigrants, are distributed in large numbers; similar advertisements are carried in newspapers and other publications which circulate among the classes most desired; permanent exhibits of Canadian products are maintained in several cities, and traveling exhibits are sent to various sections of Great Britain and Ireland and to agricultural fairs and other exhibitions throughout the United Kingdom. Another feature of the propaganda, and one which particularly indicates Canada's desire for immigrants, is the payment of a liberal bonus to several thousand so-called booking agents in the favored countries. These booking agents are for the most part local steamship ticket agents, and theoretically the bonus is allowed for the purpose of inducing such agents to favor Canada by directing thereto "Official circular, Superintendent of Immigration, Canada. June 4, 1909. toward the adoption of the stateroom system, particularly on steamships sailing from British and northern European ports, while large compartments still prevail in the southern European trade. On some of the recently built boats of the Hamburg-American Line, so-called third-class quarters have been added. In such cases one steerage deck is fitted with staterooms, while on other steerage decks the largecompartment system is retained. The stateroom system of course insures greater privacy, and is now practically demanded by many emigrants, especially those from northern European countries. On the other hand it is said that some southern and eastern European emigrants prefer the large compartments, but whether this is or is not true, it is certain that there is no general demand for small staterooms on the part of such passengers. It is claimed, also, that the larger compartments are better ventilated and lighted than are steerage staterooms. However, the matter has not been considered of sufficient importance to demand legislation in favor of either system. Descriptions of the two general types of steerage by agents of the Immigration Commission who made an investigation of steerage conditions on several transatlantic steamships in 1908 will be found elsewhere in this volume." ENFORCEMENT OF STEERAGE LAWS. From the result of the Immigration Commission's investigation just referred to it is clear that bad steerage conditions are for the most part due to the nonenforcement of the various laws regulating the carriage of steerage passengers rather than to faulty provisions in those laws. Of the four laws considered, none but the Italian provides for actual governmental supervision over a ship at sea, and consequently on ships not subject to the Italian regulations, provisions of the law which can not be controlled from ports of sailing and arrival are dependent to a great extent upon the policy of the steamship company and the will of the commanding officer. The number of steerage passengers to be carried, the equipment of the steerage, and the quality and quantity of food taken on board can, of course, be regulated according to law, but the treatment of passengers, the condition in which the steerage is kept, and the cooking and distribution of the food during the voyage can not be so controlled. The Immigration Commission has recommended to Congress that properly qualified officials of the United States, both men and women, be placed on ships carrying steerage passengers. Senator William P. Dillingham, chairman of the Commission, and Representative William S. Bennet, also a member of the Commission, have introduced bills in accordance with this recommendation, both of which are pending in Congress. See pp. 296–302. See Steerage Conditions. Reports of the Immigration Commission, vol. 37. (Senate Doc. No. 206, 61st Cong., 2d sess.) |