I would therefore recommend the following staff for the bureau:

To provide for the traveling expenses and subsistence of members of this staff whose work may take them away from the District of Columbia, to permit the hiring of interpreters and special expert assistance, the purchase of reports and other material for our publications, and the development of an adequate working library, I would recommend the appropriation of $58,000 as a fund for the miscellaneous expenses of the Children's Bureau.

I would suggest the following wording for the section of the act making this appropriation, as the provisions made therein for the payment of a per diem in lieu of subsistence to field employees would result in a saving in the cost of field work and would at the same time meet with the general approval of the force:

For the subsistence and traveling expenses of officers, special agents, and other employees of the Children's Bureau while traveling on official business, away from their homes and outside of the District of Columbia, with the provision that in the discretion of the Secretary of Labor a per diem in lieu of subsistence may be paid special agents and other employees when so traveling at a rate not to exceed four dollars a day, the exact rate to be fixed in each case in accordance with the reasonable cost of such subsistence by the Chief of the Children's Bureau, with the approval of the Secretary of Labor; for the employment of experts and temporary assistants to be paid at a rate not exceeding eight dollars a day, and of interpreters to be paid at a rate not exceeding four dollars a day when actually employed; and for the purchase of reports and material for the publications of the Children's Bureau, books of reference, newspapers and periodicals (including the advance payment of subscriptions for the same); for newspaper clippings to enable the Children's Bureau to secure data regarding the progress of legislation affecting children and the activities of public and private organizations dealing with children; and for reprints from State, city, and private publications for distribution when said reprints can be procured more cheaply thau they can be printed by the Government.

CONCLUSION.

Unquestionably the bureau should proceed as rapidly as possible to carry out the explicit directions of the law requiring the following investigations: Infant mortality, birth rate, orphanage, juvenile courts, desertion, dangerous occupations, accidents and diseases of children, employment, and legislation affecting children.

The bureau's publications already issued and in preparation deal with a few of the simpler aspects of these great problems and they have been so chosen as to strengthen each other. Thus the study of infant mortality throws light on the birth rate; the work for birth registration is essential to future knowledge of infant mortality and of the birth rate; the pamphlet on baby-saving campaigns shows the practical work already under way in certain cities; and the pamphlet on prenatal care brings to the individual mother knowledge which will lessen infant mortality. Under "Needs for the future" has been stated the line of development which obviously follows the work of the first year and leads up to the more difficult aspects of the subjects enumerated in the law. The increase of staff and appropriation necessary for beginning these further studies have been carefully considered in detail. A plan submitted is believed to be practicable, conservative, and economical. In accordance with this plan, an increase of the staff for 1915 to 76 persons is requested and an appropriation for salaries and expenses of $164,640.

Respectfully submitted.

The SECRETARY OF LABOR.

JULIA C. LATHROP, Chief.

REPORT

OF THE

COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF IMMIGRATION

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REPORT

OF THE

COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF IMMIGRATION.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION,
Washington, July 1, 1913.

SIR: On the date of this report, July 1, 1913, I have occupied the position of Commissioner General of Immigration for one month only. During 11 months of the fiscal year covered Hon. Daniel J. Keefe was the incumbent of said office. It was my intention to ask Mr. Keefe either to sign this report jointly with me or himself make a separate report covering the period of his incumbency; but before the text could be prepared Mr. Keefe had left the United States for an extended tour in the Orient and Europe. The best I can do under the circumstances is to call attention to the fact that most of the work mentioned and accomplishments shown were done and attained during his able and effective administration, and to give place herein to some of the views heretofore expressed by him regarding important phases of the enforcement of the several laws under which the bureau and service operate. In this connection there is inserted as Appendix IV (pp. 343-344, post) a statement made by him when retiring from office, to which attention is directed for his views on the subjects treated therein.

During the past fiscal year immigration to the United States, amounting to 1,197,892 aliens, has been much larger than in any fiscal year since 1907, and has been less than that shown for said year, the total for which was 1,285,349, by only 87,457, and exceeded that for the fiscal year 1912 by 359,720 and the average per year from 1908 to 1912 by 339,295. When it is remembered that during a considerable portion of the year a war was in progress in which a very large percentage of the able-bodied men of Turkey and the Balkan States were engaged, the number of immigrants entering this country seems the more remarkable. The year's net increase in population from immigration is 815,303, as compared with a net increase for the preceding year of 401,863, and for 1911 of 512,085. The aliens have not only come, but have remained in larger numbers than heretofore.

It was found necessary and possible under the provisions of the immigration law to exclude 19,938 aliens during the year, amounting to 1.38 per cent of the total number (1,447,165) applying for entry. The principal grounds of rejection were: Likely to become a public charge, of which class 7,941 were excluded; afflicted with physical or mental defects affecting ability to earn a living, 4,208; contract

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