Virginia-Continued.

Immigration and alien laws-Continued.
Acts of 1875-

I. An act for the encouragement of land purchasers and
actual settlers in Virginia, and to repeal an act ap-
proved March 29, 1873, entitled "An act for the encour-
agement of immigration

II. An act to promote the formation of immigration societies
throughout the Commonwealth

Resolution of 1877: Joint resolution authorizing the board of
immigration to distribute the Geographical and Political Sum-
mary of Virginia, published by said board..

Act of 1879: An act to provide for the creation of a commissioner
and bureau of immigration___.

Act of 1888: An act to repeal an act entitled "An act for the en-
couragement of land purchasers and actual settlers in Vir-
ginia," and to repeal an act approved March 29, 1873, entitled
"An act for the encouragement of immigration" and to dispose
of the books and pamphlets in the possession of the board of
immigration __

Act of 1894: An act to encourage immigration into the Common-
wealth of Virginia and to promote sales of lands within the
Commonwealth to immigrants_

Act of 1903: An act defining the powers and duties of the board
of agriculture and immigration and providing for an election
of a commissioner of agriculture and immigration, and for re-
pealing all acts in conflict with this act.

Act of 1906: An act appropriating $10,000 to the State board
of agriculture and immigration, to be expended in promoting
and encouraging immigration into this State_.
Act of 1908: An act to amend and reenact an act approved May
20, 1903, as heretofore amended. entitled "An act defining the
duties and powers of the board of agriculture and immigra-
tion," so as to prescribe the powers and duties of said board
and said commissioner, and to repeal an act approved Feb-
ruary 29, 1888, entitled "An act to further define the duties and
enlarge the powers of the commissioner of agriculture," and an
act approved March 5, 1888, entitled "An act to provide a com-
missioner of agriculture of Virginia and making an appropria-
tion therefor," and to repeal sections 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788,
1789, and 1790 of the Code of Virginia__-

Washington:
Digest of immigration and alien laws.
Immigration and alien laws-

Act of 1875: An act to create a board of immigration commis-
sioners, and providing for the printing and distribution of
certain pamphlets__

Act of 1877: An act to provide for the appointment of immigra-
tion agents --

Act of 1881: An act to repeal an act entitled "An act to create a
board of immigration commissioners and provide for the print-
ing and distribution of certain pamphlets," approved Novem-
ber 12, 1875____

Page.

911

914

915

915

917

918

919

921

922

925

926

926

927

Act of 1895: An act to establish a bureau of statistics, labor,
agriculture, and immigration, and making an appropriation
therefor

927

West Virginia:

Digest of immigration and alien laws.
Immigration and alien laws-

929

Act of 1871: An act to encourage immigration into the State of
West Virginia

929

Act of 1879: An act authorizing the appointment of a State agent
on immigration, and appropriating money for immigration
purposes

Resolution of 1893: Joint resolution requesting our Senators and
Representatives in Congress to aid in the enactment of laws
prohibiting for a time, and restricting thereafter, immigration_

930

931

Wisconsin:

Page.

Digest of immigration and alien laws--

933

Immigration and alien laws:

Memorial of 1864: Memorial for the passage of laws tending to
encourage foreign immigration to the United States___
Act of 1867: An act authorizing the establishment of a board of
immigration

935

936

Acts of 1868

I. An act to amend chapter 126, of the General Laws of
1867, entitled "An act to authorize the establishment
of a board of immigration ".

II. An act to amend chapter 126, General Laws of 1867, en-
titled "An act authorizing the establishment of a board
of immigration_.

Act of 1870: An act to authorize the State board of immigration
to appoint an agent in the city of New York.

Act of 1871: An act to create the office of state commissioner of
immigration, to provide for the same, and define the duties
thereof

Acts of 1874

I. An act to repeal chapter 155 of the General Laws of 1871,
entitled "An act to create the office of State commis-
sioner of immigration, to provide for the same, and
define the duties thereof “.

II. An act to amend section 20 and repeal sections 3, 5, 6, 7,
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16 of chapter 155, of the General
Laws of 1871, entitled "An act to create the office of
State commissioner of immigration, to provide for the
same, and define the duties thereof

Act of 1879: An act to establish a board of immigration.
Act of 1880: An act relating to the appropriation of money to the
State board of immigration and amendatory of section 7 of
chapter 176 of the laws of 1879_..

937

938

939

940

943

943

944

945

Act of 1881: An act to appropriate to the State board of immi-
gration a sum of money therein named__.

945

Act of 1887: An act to repeal chapter 176 of the laws of 1879 and
to abolish the board of immigration thereby established.
Act of 1895: An act to establish a board of immigration__
Act of 1897: An act to amend chapter 235 of the laws of 1895,
entitled "An act to establish a board of immigration”.
Acts of 1909-

945

946

947

I. An act to amend sections 1797-98 of the statutes, per-
mitting immigration agents to obtain reduced rates on
railways__

948

II. An act to amend sections 237h, 237i, and 237j of the
statutes, relating to the State board of immigration___

949

Wyoming:
Digest of immigration and alien laws__

951

Immigration and alien laws

Act of 1873: An act to establish a board of immigration, and for
other purposes__.

952

Act of 1888: An act providing for the encouragement of immi-
gration to the Territory of Wyoming, and for other purposes__
Act of 1907: An act creating a department of immigration, com-
posed of the commissioner of public lands, the State geologist,
and the State engineer of Wyoming, and defining its powers
and duties__

954

956

INTRODUCTORY.

The compilation of the State immigration and alien laws presented herewith in a measure supplements the review of Federal immigration legislation which also forms part of this volume. In that review the efforts of some of the seaboard States to regulate the immigration of aliens through their ports are described and reference is made to the various State laws that were enacted prior to the time when the Federal Government assumed control of the immigration movement. The State immigration laws referred to are included in this compilation.

79521°- —VOL 39—11—33

505

ALABAMA.

DIGEST OF IMMIGRATION AND ALIEN LAWS.

In the State of Alabama, as in other States of the South, the laws relating to immigration are the product of a process of development having its genesis in the industrial revolution wrought by the civil war. Advanced in a single step from compulsory servitude to complete industrial and political freedom the laboring class became disorganized and, consequently, of doubtful reliability and efficiency. So the needs of the community required the introduction of manual workers from other sources while conditions were in process of adjustment.

Act of 1871.-In 1871 the State, by act of the general assembly, empowered certain specified citizens and their associates to devise and execute all practicable plans "not inconsistent with the laws of the United States or the laws of the State of Alabama to invite and procure immigrants to settle within the boundary of the State of Alabama," provided that no one of the specified parties shall have power to charge the credit of the State or his associates with any liability or expense incurred by his acts.

* **

*

to

Act of 1874-75.---In 1874-75 an act created the office of immigration commissioner and a board of commissioners and directors. Full power is conferred to "adopt such a constitution and by-laws and rules and regulations as may be applicable and safe induce and encourage immigration." It shall be the duty of the commissioner to collect comprehensive data for the "intelligent enlightenment of both capital and labor on the products, resources, and opportunities of the State; and to publish literature for general distribution showing the comparative advantages of this State in all matters affecting the interest of labor and capital;" to circulate the information among persons wherever it may be regarded as serving the interests of the State; and to provide for a depot of immigration at the State's best seaport in order to facilitate the objects contemplated by this act. The commissioner shall have power to appoint agents to "induce and direct desirable immigration; " to disseminate information about the resources of the State; to adjust lines of transit--insuring safety, dispatch, and cheapness; to cooperate with several counties of the State in securing contributions and in locating immigrants; and " to make contracts for immigrants for planters, mining, and railroad corporations, or persons in the State of Alabama who desire to avail themselves of the benefits of this act." Compensation for the services of such officials shall not be provided by the State, but from funds raised by private initiative.

The act of 1874-75 conferred upon aliens the right to acquire, hold, and dispose of property, real or personal, as native citizens.