State on all lines the heads of the several departments of the state government and of the state institutions are hereby required to furnish accurately such information as may be at their command to the commissioner when called upon for same. That the commissioner is hereby empowered to enter manufacturing establishments chartered by the State in prosecution of this work, and that the corporations operating same shall furnish such information as may not be injurious to their business when required to furnish the same by the commissioner of immigration.

SEC. 9. Be it further enacted, That with regard to agricultural interests under this act, it shall be the duty of the commissioner to secure those immigrants who desire to purchase homes, become citizens of this State, and will build up agricultural interests.

SEC. 10. Be it further enacted, That this act shall take effect from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.

Passed, April 12, 1907.

E. G. TOLLETT,

Speaker of the Senate. JOHN T. CUNNINGHAM, Jr.,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Approved, April 15, 1907.

MALCOLM R. PATTERSON,

Governor.

TEXAS.

DIGEST OF IMMIGRATION AND ALIEN LAWS.

After the abolition of compulsory servitude as a result of the civil war the people of Texas were so strongly impressed with the necessity for inducing desirable immigration to enter the State that a provision to facilitate that object was incorporated in the constitution of 1869.

Constitutional provision.-In Article XI, section 1, the constitution of 1869 provides that there shall be a bureau, known as the bureau of immigration, which shall have supervision and control of all matters connected with immigration. The head of the bureau shall be styled superintendent of immigration. He shall be appointed by the governor by and with the consent of the senate. He shall hold his office for four years, and, until otherwise fixed by law, shall receive an annual compensation of $2,000. He shall have such further powers and duties connected with immigration as may be given by law.

SEC. 2. The legislature shall have power to appropriate part of the ordinary revenue of the State for the purpose of promoting and protecting immigration. Such appropriation shall be devoted to defraying the expenses of the bureau, to support the agencies in foreign seaports or seaports of the United States, and to the payment in part or in toto of the passage of immigrants from Europe to this State and their transportation within this State.

Act of 1871 (an act to organize the bureau of immigration).— In pursuance of the authority contained in the organic law of the State an act was passed in 1871 creating a bureau of immigration, administered by a superintendent of immigration. It shall be the duty of the superintendent of immigration to take all steps which he may deem advisable and proper for the encouragement of immigration and for the protection of immigrants, especially in the procurement of their transportation from the coast to the interior; in guarding them against fraud, chicanery, and peculation; in their temporary location in proper and reasonable places of board and lodging on their arrival; and in making all such regulations and provisions as may be in any manner necessary and conducive to their welfare; and all officers of the State are hereby required and commanded to aid and assist him in the objects aforesaid whenever requested. It shall be the duty of the superintendent to collect and compile exhaustive data, calculated to give a correct idea of the material and social condition of the State and to diffuse correct information of its advantages to immigrants. To effectuate these objects he shall publish, in several principal languages of Europe, and distribute literature treating and describing in a true light the resources of the State and any other information of interest and utility to the immigrant.

The superintendent shall have power to appoint, under his supervision, an agent for the Southern States, one for the Northern States, one for Great Britain, and one for continental Europe, for the purpose of aiding and advising immigration. Total compensation for agents' services shall not exceed $3,500 a year. But the governor may authorize agents to act without compensation. An appropriation of $30,000 is made for the purposes enumerated.

Constitution of 1876.-Article XVI, section 56 of the constitution of 1876, provides that "the legislature shall have no power to appropriate any of the public money for the establishment and maintenance of a bureau of immigration or for any purpose of bringing immigrants to this State." This provision operates as a practical inhibition upon the work of the previously existing bureau of immigration.

Joint resolution of 1876.-The Texas legislature of 1876, by reason of the adverse provision of the constitution, passed a joint resolution extending "a cordial invitation to the good and industrious immigrant to come and make his home among us," and authorizing and requesting the state officers to furnish the Texas Land and Immigration Company "such official documents, at their disposal, as will aid the said company in the work of securing immigration to this State."

IMMIGRATION AND ALIEN LAWS.

ACT OF 1871.

[Laws of Texas, 1871, ch. 116, p. 127.]

AN ACT To organize the bureau of immigration.

Be it enacted by the legislature of the State of Texas:

SECTION 1. That in accordance with article eleven of the constitution there shall be created a bureau of immigration, which shall have the supervision and control of all matters connected with immigration.

SEC. 2. That the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a superintendent of immigration who shall be at the head of said bureau, shall hold his office for four years, and receive an annual compensation of two thousand dollars.

SEC. 3. That it shall be the duty of said superintendent of immigration to take all the steps which he may deem advisable and proper for the encouragement of immigration, and for the protection of immigrants, especially in the procurement of their transportation from the coast to the interior; in the guarding them against fraud, chicanery and peculation; in their temporary location in proper and reasonable places of board and lodging on their arrival; and in making all such regulations and provisions as may be in any manner necessary and conducive to their welfare; and all officers of the State are hereby required and commanded to aid and assist him in the objects aforesaid, whenever requested.

SEC. 4. That it shall be the duty of the superintendent to collect and compile, from all the sources within his reach, such suggestions. references and statistics as are best calculated to give a correct idea

of the material and social condition of our State, and to diffuse correct information of the advantages of this State to immigrants.

SEC. 5. That to this effect he shall from time to time prepare or cause to be prepared, published, and translated into one or two of the principal languages of Europe, pamphlets (with maps of the State), essays and articles, treating on and describing in a true light the developed and undeveloped agricultural and mineral resources of the State of Texas, the nature of her climate, soil, geographical features and advantages; her manufacturing capacities; her public improvements, and every other local information of interest and utility to the immigrant; such pamphlets to be distributed in such localities wherever, in his opinion, they may be useful and beneficial for the promotion of immigration into our State.

SEC. 6. That furthermore, it shall be the duty of the superintendent to forward to the governor, to be by him laid before the legislature, at each session, a full report of his transactions, stating all the means and channels employed by him in the accomplishment of his mission, the results attained or expected to be attained through his efforts, the statistics of immigration, and other kindred information calculated to suggest further legislation on the subject.

SEC. 7. That said superintendent shall have power to appoint, with the consent of the, governor, an agent or agents for the United States and for Europe-not more than two agents, one for the Northern and one for the Southern States of the United States, and two for Europe; of the latter, one for Great Britain, and one for the continent; for the purpose of aiding or advising immigration. And such agent or agents shall act under the instruction of the superintendent of immigration, who shall also fix and allow their compensation for their services, to be paid out of the fund created as hereafter provided, said salary not to exceed thirty-five hundred dollars per annum. And that the governor have power to authorize or accredit persons as agents or lecturers, other than the commissioners herein named, so as to represent abroad the claims of Texas as a field for immigrants, for each separate State, country or sovereignty: Provided, That such agents are not to receive compensation from the State for such services.

SEC. 8. That the sum of thirty thousand dollars, or so much of it as may be necessary, be appropriated from any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended for the purposes of the bureau of immigration.

SEC. 9. That this act take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, May 23, 1871.

RESOLUTION OF 1876.

[Laws of Texas, 1876, p. 317.]

Whereas the constitution inhibits this State from expending money in the interest of immigration, and whereas an impression prevails that the people of this State are indifferent or opposed to immigration from the older States of the Union and from foreign nations, and whereas the Texas Land and Immigration Company of St.

Louis, a corporation organized under the general statutes of the State of Missouri, composed of men of known integrity of character, business reputation, possessing ample means, have undertaken to carry on a free communication with the other States of the Union and with foreign countries, furnishing information of the great resources of the State of Texas, her climate, soil, minerals, and advantages presented for the investment of capital in manufactures and other advantages to the immigrant; therefore, be it,

SECTION 1. Resolved by the legislature of the State of Texas, That the people of Texas extend a cordial invitation to the good and industrious immigrant to come and make his home among us, and that we will extend to him a hearty welcome, and that the state officers are authorized and requested to furnish the agents and officers of said company such official documents at their disposal as will aid the said company in the work of securing immigration to this State; Provided, The same be done without any cost to the State. Takes effect ninety days after adjournment.

Approved, August 28, 1876.