Speech #680080987

The congestion of foreign population In large cities hinders all attempts at Americanization. It is a constant menace to the safety and health of this country. In the State of New York 27.2 per cent of the population is foreign born. yet 46 per cent in State institutions for the insane are of foreign birth. and 25 per cent are aliens. The taxpayers of the State of New York pay yealy into the State treasury $4.500.000 for the care of the foreignborn insane and an additional $400.000 for the alien criminal. These sums do not include the cost for the maintenance of feebleminded and paupers. Of the 137 patients admitted to Matteawan in 1922. which is the last report I was able to obtain. 59 were foreign born and only .8 had been naturalized. At the end of that year 431 of the 932 patients were foreign born and only 108 of these had taken any steps to become American citizens. In Ohio less than 12 per cent of the entire population is of foreign birth. yet a canvass of the State institutions shows that 2.689 foreign born are being cared for by the State at a yearly maintenance expense of more than $750.000. This amount does not include the cost of additional buildings and equipment nor cover the maintenance of foreign born in city and county institutions. In the Cleveland State Hospital. 50 per cent. Lima State Hospital for the Criminal Insane. 31.4 per cent. Massillon State Hospital. 35 per cent. and Ohio Penitentiary. 19.5 per cent of the inumates are foreign born. There are 165 feebleminded foreign born in the State institutions for the feebleminded at Columbus. costing $34.000 a year for their care. The admission of feebleminded aliens into this country is unlawful. If 165 have finally reached this Institution in Ohio. think of the larger number in the entire United States!