Speech #670011388

Mr. President. if I may be pernitted to make a remark on the subject. that matter was very thoroughly investigated in 1907 at the time the immigration commission did its three years work. At that time the countrys cry was that the steamship companies were dumping European emigrants into this country. that they had their agents everywhere in Europe. and wer6 the inducing cause for their coining. At that time we made a very careful investigation of the question. and while we found the steamship companies were very glad to have the patronage of the immigrants. we lound also that over 90 per cent of those immigrants came here because of correspondence had with their brothers. their cotisins. or their former neighbors now in this country who had written them what the rates of wages were in the United States. had written them that work was plenty. and that if they came ler(e they would be sure of employment and at the wages indicated in their letters. We found as a result of such correspondence that substantially 80 per cent of those landing in this coumtry had. at the time of such landing. railroad tickets fromi New York to the place of their destination that had been sent to them previous to their leaving honie. The steamship companies. I think. were anxious to secure passengers. but we did not find that the immigration was induced by them. but was induced by friends of the arriving immigrants already in this country.