Congressional Serial Set

APPENDIX A.

SYNOPSIS OF IMMIGRATION AND CONTRACT LABOR LAWS, 1875-1907.

Law of 1907.

A tax of $4 for every
alien entering the
United States. The
money so collected to
be paid into the im-
migrant fund, to be
used in regulating
immigration, includ-
ing costs of contract-
labor laws, and costs
of decisions of the
Federal courts.
Limit to be paid into
inmigrant fund in
any one year, $2,500,-
000. Aliens entering
the United States
after one year's unin-
terrupted residence
in Canada, New-
foundland, Cuba, or
Mexico and aliens in
transit through the
United States ex-
cepted from paying
the tax. Provision
does not apply to
aliens arriving in
Guam, Porto Rico,
or Hawaii (sec. 1).
Representatives of
foreign governments
exempt from all
provisions of this
faw (sec. 41).

a By act of 1884 this head tax was not to be collected from passengers coming into the United States by vessel from ports of Canada or Mexico. By the law of 1894 head tax had been raised to $1.

c Exception extended to citizens of Newfoundland.

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Synopsis of immigration and contract labor laws, 1875-1907-Continued.

Contract laborers

Chinese coolies also excluded.

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Contract labor laws of 1885 and 1887 in force; but ministers and professors and members of any recognized profession added to those excepted from the provisions of the act in regard to contract laborers (sec. 5).

c Contract laborers were described in act of 1885, but not excluded until 1887.

d While contract laborers were not specifically excluded by this law it was clearly the intent of the law that they should be excluded, and it was so held. The intent of the law in this regard is indicated by the fact that provision was made for the deportation of contract laborers; that steamship companies and others were penalized for bringing them, and that the following classes were excepted from the application of the law in this regard: Professiona! actors, artists, lecturers, singers, ministers, professors of colleges, persons belonging to any recognized profession, and personal or domestic servants (sec. 2).

Synopsis of immigration and contract labor laws, 1875-1907-Continued.

Manifests made before

departure by captain
and surgeon. Sworn
to before an immigra
tion officer at port of
arrival, that none of
the excluded classes
are aboard. The lists
contain: Full name,
age, and sex; whether
married or single; the
Occupation; whether
able to read or write;
the nationality; the
race; the last resi-
dence; the name and
address of nearest rel-
ative in country from
which alien came;
the seaport for 'and-
ing; the final destina-
tion; whether having
a ticket through to
such destination;
who paid his passage;
whether in possession
of fifty dollars, and
if less, how much;
whether going to join
a relative or friend,
and if so, what rela-
tive or friend; wheth-

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