Speech #540100259

Massachu.setts. I will proceed to read the preceding paragraphs to the one to which I have referred as the conclusion of the report of the CommissionerGeneral as to the illiteracy test as applied by this bill. I did not hear him say the two preceding. hut the preceding paragraphs. and among those preceding paragraphs passing upon all of the laws which are upon our statute hooks. he :says: It is gratifying tometo be again able to report to you that I know of no immigraut landed in this country within the past year who is now a burden Ipon any public or private institution. With some exceptions. the physical characteristics of the yearls immigration were those 0f a hardy. sound..Iaboring class. accustomod.:and apparently -well able. to earn a livelihood wherever capable and industrious labor can secure employment. As to occupations. it was composed largely of the classes designated as "skilled and unskilled laborers." with some professionals. The anmount of mrn ey brought into the country by immigrants was at least $4.917.318. and probaby was argely in excess of these figures. since only those .having less than $0 are required to disclose the exact amounts they.have. respectively. Experience shows that it is safe..in estimating the full amount actuallybrought into the country. to multiply the foregoing figures three or four times. as in many instances immigrants reported as -having "$30 or over" are possessed of considerable sums of money which they have saved up to invest in small business euterprises. or to buy land and build .a home for their families in the Now World. Assuming that the tido of immigration to and emigration froma country corresponds to the fluctuations in theconiitionof its industriesin exact barI nony with the -laws -of -supplyand demand. a consideration of the foregoing tables does not justify the conclusion that our alienpopulation is growingin undue proportion. A comparison of the figures forthe pastyear (33.267) with. he:average annual immigration for the preceding ten fiscal years (4815.085) discloses a -decrease of 91.818. or over21per cent. Suchdataas I have been able to obtain as to the number of those who annually return to their .own country. though approximate only. lead me to doubt seriously that thereohas .been any material increase inourforeignhorn population since 1893. Regarding only the large number of arrivals. the public :mind becomes much excited and urges restrictive legislation. but this apprehension would be lessened. if not entirely allayed. by a correct enumeration -of those who! depart never to return. and of those who comeandtgo each year.engaging in work here during the busy season and returning to their o.nhomes atother*times. where they can live much more cheaply. In compliance vith theopublie demand. measures have been presented and.are now pending beforeCongross which will materially reduce the numberand -improve the character .of -alienssoking homes ir this country. and will tendto make the -influxapproxiiaatein number the losses from-.death-:andi he weturn of aliens toreestublish themselves in their native countries. To:show howerroneous .imlressions may bedorived -from -correct fgures. a teution is:directed to the perriod Tro.n1880 to 190.during whidh IJtime.5246.613 immigrants landed on these shores. but the United States census reports state the actual increase in our.foreignborn population in 18906ver that of 1880 at but 2.569.604. or less than half the actual arrivals.for the same period. the difference representing those who died and those who left for foreign countries. In confirmation of the large proportion which according to -the above figures remains here only temporarily may he adduced the data supplied me by the various transportation companies for the year 1895. showing that they broughtto this ountry328.24:6 steerage passengers and carried -back 154.07-.. or.about 50 percent. All ef the former passengers were not immigrants. for some were UnitoedStates -citizens. nor were the latter all returniug aliens. butt he figures are .significant .and showwhat is often lost sight ofthat a very large deduction must be made from the actual -arrivals to .aseertain with anydegree of accuracy .how many become :ermanent residents :of this country. That is all I propose to :read in gratification of the -suggestionof the Senator from Massachusetts in this :connection. :and I -now renew the :motion which I made a few moments since..so that the opportunity which I have suggested for information as :contained :in this .report may be int6ligently passed upon by the :Senate.