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English VI.

Debate for Thursday, May 11, 1893.

NO WRITER ATTRIBUTED

Question: Resolved, That a high tax should be laid on all foreigners coming to settle in the United States.

Brief for the Affirmative.

WM. HILL AND C. H. LINCOLN.

Best general references: R. M. Smith, Emigration and Immigration; Forum XI. 635 (Aug. '91), XIV. 110, (Sept. '92): And. Rev. (Mar. '88). (Aug. '88); Yale Rev. I. 130, (Aug. '92): Cong. Rec. '89-90, pp. 3326, Ford Com. Report on the Importation of Contract Laborers. ('88) House Misc. Doc. No. 572.

I. Immigration should be further restricted: - (a) On social grounds: - The proportion of paupers, diseased and criminal, is great. Messages and Documents, ('80-91) pp. 85: - (b) On economic grounds: - (1) No longer needed to develop the country. Pop. Sci. Mo., XLI. 762. Oct. '92 - (2) They lower wages and the standard of living; Forum XIV. 113. (Sept. '92): - (3) Unskilled occupations already overcrowded. Smith, 117. - (c) On political grounds. - (1) The Immigrants do not understand our institutions. Bryce Am. Com. I. 634. - (2) They become tools of Machine politicians; Smith. 13. - (3) They form communities by themselves, Bryce, Am. Com. II. 725. - (d) The dangers are increasing. - (1) The immigrants congregate in cities more than formerly; Smith 66-70. - (2) The character of the immigrants is deteriorating: Yale Review I. 132 (Aug. '92.).

II. A high tax would stop undesirable immigration: And. Rev. XIV. 260. (Mar. '88): - (a) It would make impossible the sending of; - (1) paupers, - (2) convicts, (3) contract laborers, - (4) shiftless and ignorant persons whom agents of steamship companies induce to come: Yale Rev. (Aug. '92). - (b) The Italians and Slavs can barely raise the passage money; they could not raise the tax: Ford Com. Rep. pt. 2, pp. 112, - (c) Tax would not keep out the desirable immigrants such as, - (1) Germany, - (2) Sweds, - (3) Irish, for they bring enough money to pay the tax; Schmoller's Jahrbucher XI. 776.

III. A tax is the simplest effective restriction, - (a) It cannot be evaded. (b) It is the surest practical guarantee of the qualities desired, Yale Rev. I, 141 (Aug. '92), - (c) It is just, immigrant is worth, to the country, $225; Ford Com. Rep, III, - (2) per capita wealth of the U. S. is $1000. Smith, immigration and Immigration. 101, - (3) The immigrant should pay to be admitted to the wealth and priveleges of this country.

Brief for the Negative.

G. O. VIRTUE and E. P. JOSE.

Best general references: Ap, Am, Cyc, vi. 572; North Am. Review, vol. 154, pp. 424 - 432 (April '92); Forum, xiii, 360 - 370 (May '92); Lalor's Cyclopaedia, ii. 85 - 94; Schmoller, Jahrbucher fur Gezetzgebung, ix. 31 - 74; Stat. at Large, xxvi. 1084 - 1086.

I; A continuance of immigration desirable: Forum, xiv. 601 (Jan. '93); Pub. Op. iii. 251; ibid, xiv. 297 (Dec. 31, '92). - (a) There is need of laborers in the South and West: Forum xiii. 366; No. Am. Rev. vol 134, p. 350 (Apr. '82); ibid. vol. 154, p. 424 (Apr. '92). - (b) Voluntary immigrants thrifty and active: And. R. ix. 251; Pol. Sci. L. iii. 61. - (c) Opposition to the present class of immigrants is groundless Forum, xiv. 602 (Jan. '93) Nation, xiv. 519. - (d) The troublesome and mischievous immigrants are a small part of the whole: Nation, xiv. 519 (Dec. 29, '87); Forum, xiv. 605-6. (Jan. '93)

II. The present immigration laws are sufficient: Pub. Op. iii. 249: No. Am. Rev. vol. 152, pp. 27-37 (Jan. '91); Nation, xiv. 518; Stat. at L. xxvi. 1084 - 1086. - (a) Laws now exclude paupers, criminals, insane people and persons liable to become a public charge as well as imported labor: Pub. Op. iii. 250

II. The proposed measure would amount to practical prohibition: No. Am. R. vol. 152, p. 27 (Jan. '91); Pub. Op. xiv. 298 (Dec. 31. '92). - (a) Total prohibition would be impossible: Pol. Sci. Q. iii. 420; Pub. Op. iii. 250. - (b) Impossible to collect the tax: Forum, xiii, 366 (May, '92) - (c) It would debar families from immigrating. - (d) Immigration is self regulating: Forum. xiv. 606; No, Am. R. Ixxxii. 251, 259; Ap. Am. Cyc. vi. 578-579; No. Am. vol. 134. p. 348: Pol. Sci. Q. iii. 50; (e) Opposition to immigration comes largely from foreigners themselves; (f) Prohibition would be a reversal of American policy; smith's Immigration and Emigration 81.

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