| Show restricting immigration A NEW bill to regulate immigration was reported to the house of representatives senta tives of the united states on the of january by mr owen of indiana it Js is a substitute for a bill referred to the committee on irrigation and naturalization the new bill was read twice and committed to the corn com of the whole on the state of the union it provides for the exclusion from landing on these shores in addition to chinese laborers all idiots insane persons paupers haupers or persons likely to become a public charge persons suffering from a loathsome or contagious disease persons convicted of a felony or gross misdemeanor polygamists and all passengers whose ticket or passage is paid for forwith with the money of another or who are assisted to come unless it to is shown that they do not belong to one of the foregoing classes any allon alian coming hero here in consequence of the promise of employment through advertisements printed and published in a foreign country is to tn be excluded as a contract laborer lao steamship or transportation companies that by agents or writing or er printing or oral representation solicit immigration into the united states except by ordinary methods stating the sailings of vessels and the facilities of transportation are to be subject to heavy penalties any person bringing or landing or aiding tu bring or land any alien not lawfully entitled to enter the united states is to b be subject to a maximum fine of a thousand dollars or imprisonment not dot exceeding one year or both regularly ordained ministers of the gospel professors of colleges and persons belonging to acx ak recognized profession are exempted from the provisions of the contract labor law A superintendent of immigration with a salary of five nud dollars a year is to be appointed by the president and senate he Is to belong to the treasury department have a chief clerk and two assistant clerks and an office la in washington and make annual reports and such special reports w m may be nece necessary esary on immigration matters and transactions on the arrival of an immigrant vessel the officer or agent is to report the name nationality last residence and destination of every alien on board before any of them are landed A medical examination is to be made by surgeons of the marine hospital service inspection officers may administer oaths and take testimony concerning such aliens and their decisions are to be final unless appeal is taken to the superintendent of immigration all aliens deemed to have come here unlawfully amelto are to be returned if practicable ti on the vessel which brought them at the expense of the ship own ers and during their detention their expenses must be paid by such owners on penalty of a maximum fine of three hundred dollars for each of fence any alien unlawfully landing or lie becoming coming a public charge may be returned with in one year thereafter at the expense of the person or company bringing him if practicable and if not at the expense of the L cited states this is the substance of the bill considering sideri si Dg the other important questions which are likely to occupy the attention of congress during the short time that intervenes between now and the 3rd ard of march it is very doubtful whether this bill can become a law there are provisions in it too that seem to be able how advertising for emigrants in foreign lands can be prevented and on what principle pi e of law prosecutions can be maintained in the united states for sets acte committed outside the jurisdiction of the united states we are not able to discover and the proposition to exclude an immigrant because he has seen some advertisement or publication setting forth the advantages of certain portions of the united states to settlers appears to us to be not only impossible to carry out but absurd on its very face that some measures are needed to restrict immigration as closely as possible to persons who are likely to be a benefit instead of bf a detriment or a burden to the community to is evident to all who have carefully reflected upon the evils that have been wrought through the influx of criminals and paupers haupers and those disorderly persons who despise government and seek to destroy society but such laws ought to be well considered si and while devised to effect this needful purpose should not shut out from the asylum for the oppressed any worthy person who is pour poor but who may become a strength to the nation and for whom there to is plenty of room and ample opportunities for advancement in this splendid and product ductile j land of liberty |
