I present a petition of the order of the Knights of Labor. No. 1562. of Brooklyn. N. Y.. and at their request I will state the substance of the petition. It is that "notwithstanding the prevailing stagnation of trade and industry. and the enforced idleness of the working people. foreign immigrants still flock to our shores in great numbers." The petitioners state that this is inflicting "great hardship and misery upon our ownworking people. by lowering the wages of some and depriving others of employment altogether ". and they ask the enactment of a tariff or head tax upon each inimigrant. that no immigrant shall be admitted who does not possess. "if a single man. the sum of $200. if a single woman. the sum of $50. or if the head of a family. the sum of $300". and they also ask "the enactment of additional legislation to exclude nonresident Canadian workmen. and all immigrants who do not intend to become citizens of the United States." The petitioners ask for a further amendment to the contractlabor law so that none but American citizens shall be employed on any public works.
Keywords matched
immigrants head tax immigrant