GEORGIA.

DIGEST OF IMMIGRATION AND ALIEN LAWS.

Act of 1866 (an act to facilitate the sale of real estate in Georgia and to encourage immigration thereto).—The preamble to the act of 1866 recites that under the devastation caused by the conflict of arms and the emancipation of the slaves the majority of the people are in destitute circumstances and are desirous of disposing of real estate on the most advantageous terms and of having the privilege and benefit of seeking buyers abroad. The act provides, in pursuance of the people's needs, that authority shall be granted to specified persons to establish a commission house or land agency for the sale and disposal of real estate by lottery and otherwise under prescribed regulations and restrictions.

Act of 1869 (an act to encourage immigration into the State of Georgia and the investment of capital in lands).-Under the act of 1869 a domestic and a foreign commissioner of immigration shall be elected by joint ballot of the general assembly. The domestic commissioner shall serve for a term of two years and shall faithfully devote himself to the encouragement of the immigration of good citizens, laborers, artisans, mechanics, and others, and to the investment of capital in lands. Such publications as may be deemed advisable shall be purchased, printed, and circulated to promote the general objects of the act. The foreign commissioner shall visit Europe for a period extending from one to two years for the purpose of encouraging and facilitating immigration and the sale of lands. Complete records of all acts and transactions shall be kept and report in one year to the governor.

Act of 1870.-The statute of 1870 was enacted to repeal an "Act to encourage immigration into the State of Georgia and the investment of capital in lands."

Act of 1872 (an act relative to the obligations of emigrants to employers advancing funds for expenses).—The act of 1872 makes it punishable by law for any emigrant to the State to leave the service of his employer who has paid the traveling expenses or passage money in coming to the State unless such emigrant shall refund to his employer the amount of the traveling expenses or passage money advanced.

Act of 1873.-The statute of 1873 was enacted to repeal the act of 1872 relative to the obligation of emigrants to employers advancing funds for expenses.

Act of 1875.-The act of 1875 is intended to repeal section 2676 of the Georgia Code of 1873, by which the rights of aliens are restricted and abridged in reference to holding lands.

Act of 1879 (an act to encourage immigration to Georgia, and for other purposes). The governor shall appoint a state land and immigration agent. The agent, by advertising, by disseminating correct

information as to the State's soil, climate, productions, and resources, by arranging special rates of transportation, and by such other methods as the governor may approve, shall invite and encourage immigration, including cooperative colonization. The agent may appoint a secretary and agents to assist him. He shall keep a register of lands for sale in the State, and names of persons desiring to purchase lands or secure employees or employment. Any citizen may register lands for sale, and any person may register his name for purchasing lands or securing employees or employment. Circulars shall be issued setting forth inducements offered to immigrants.

Act of 1894 (providing for a state bureau of immigration).— The act of 1894 provides for establishing a bureau of immigration with the commissioner of immigration ex officio commissioner of immigration. The commissioner shall collect and arrange a handbook of the resources of the State for publication and dissemination. It shall contain data relating to all matters deemed of interest to homeseekers, investors, and the general public. He shall correspond with all agencies in operation for the purpose of bringing capital, home seekers, and acceptable immigrants to Georgia and other Southern States.

IMMIGRATION AND ALIEN LAWS.

ACT OF 1866.

[Laws of Georgia, 1866 (No. 120), p. 70.]

AN ACT To facilitate the sale of real estate in Georgia, and to encourage immigration thereto.

Whereas under the devastation caused by our late conflict of arms, and the emancipation of our slaves, the majority of our people are left in destitute circumstances, and in most cases having only their real estate left them; and being desirous of disposing of all, or a portion thereof, on the most advantageous terms, and from the poverty of our people unable to find purchasers at home, and being desirous of having the privilege and benefit of legally seeking buyers abroad, at a fair valuation for said estate: Therefore

7. SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., That William Schley, Robert Schley, and James Gardner, of the county of Richmond and State of Georgia, shall have the right and authority to establish, in the city of Atlanta and State aforesaid, a commission house or land agency for the sale and disposal of real estate by lottery and otherwise, under the following regulations and restrictions, to wit:

First. Any person desiring to sell or dispose of his, her, or their real estate through the said land agency, by lottery or otherwise, shall, before doing so, fully describe the same, as to the number of acres (and if a city lot, the number of feet), its boundaries, character of improvements, and county in which located, so it can be fully identified.

Second. Shall then place a fair valuation thereon, which valuation shall be certified to by two disinterested citizens of the county or neighborhood in which the land is located, and when there prerequisites are complied with, and the property offered for sale or lottery by the said land agency, the party or parties having the con

trol of said land and improvements shall bind themselves in a good and sufficient bond to said land agents, or their successors, to make a valid title thereto to whoever may be the drawer or purchaser thereof; but no obligations to make titles given to said parties shall be of any force or effect for a longer period than six months, unless the valuation fixed to the property shall be tendered within the said terms of six months from the date of such bond, whenever the said land agents or their successors shall tender to the owner or controller thereof (in currency) the valuation agreed upon for said property.

8. SEC. 2. That said William Schley, Robert Schley, and James Gardner, or their successors, shall have the right to add to the certified valuation of said property a reasonable percentage to cover commissions, advertising, and other incidental expenses necessary to the disposal of the same; but in all events the party owning the property to receive the net valuation thereof.

Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.
Approved, 3d December, 1866.

ACT OF 1869.

[Georgia Laws, 1869, Title VIII, p. 26.]

AN ACT To encourage immigration into the State of Georgia and the investment of capital in lands.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., That, as soon as practicable after the passage of this act the two houses of the general assembly shall, in joint session, elect one domestic and one foreign commissioner of immigration, and that said commissioners so elected shall be commissioned by the governor.

SEC. 2. The domestic commissioner shall hold his office for two years, unless sooner removed by the governor upon the address of two-thirds of the general assembly. He shall have an office at the capital of the State, and shall have power to use an official seal. He shall faithfully devote himself to the encouragement of the immigration of good citizens, laborers, artisans, mechanics, etc., and to the investment of capital in lands.

SEC. 3. The domestic commissioner, aided by the foreign commissioner, shall cause to be purchased, printed, and circulated such publications as they shall deem advisable tending to promote the general object herein contemplated: Provided, They shall not expend in printing and circulating such publications beyond three thousand dollars of the amount hereinafter appropriated, and that the State shall not be, directly or by implication, made liable for any expenditure for said printing and circulation beyond said sum of three thousand dollars.

SEC. 4. The foreign commissioner shall cooperate with the domestic commissioner in encouraging and facilitating immigration into the State and the sale of lands to immigrants, and to this end shall visit Europe and remain there for the period hereinafter designated.

SEC. 5. The annual salary of the domestic commissioner shall be two thousand dollars, and all the agencies said commissioner may establish for the purpose of keeping a record of lands for sale, description, surveys, and other information relative to such lands shall

be paid for by said commissioner; and to enable him to defray all said expenses, in addition to his salary he is hereby authorized to charge and collect such fees for entering lands, descriptions, surveys, etc., upon his books and such per cent upon any amounts realized from the sale of lands and such fees for hiring laborers, mechanics, etc., as he may agree upon with the parties for whom such service may be rendered.

SEC. 6. The compensation for the foreign commissioner shall be three thousand dollars, and for such compensation he shall be required to remain in Europe not less than one or more than two years. SEC. 7. That the two commissioners herein provided for are hereby authorized to cooperate, as they may deem advisable, with any effort made and to receive any assistance offered by the state agricultural society for the accomplishment of the purposes herein contemplated.

SEC. 8. Said commissioners shall, one year after the date of their commissions, report to the governor the plan they have adopted and the results of said plan.

SEC. 9. For the carrying out the purposes of this act the sum of ten thousand dollars is hereby appropriated; and under no circumstances shall the State be liable for any sum of money on this account besides the said sum of ten thousand dollars herein appropriated. SEC. 10. Repeals conflicting laws.

This act became a law without executive approval by the lapse of five days from its receipt by the governor without being returned by him.

ACT OF 1870.

[Laws of Georgia, No. 264, 1870, p. 400.]

AN ACT To repeal an act entitled "An act to encourage immigration into the
State of Georgia, and the investment of capital in lands."

SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., That an act entitled "An act to encourage immigration into the State of Georgia, and the investment of capital in lands," which act became a law, without the approval of the executive, by lapse of time, March 8, 1870, be, and the same is hereby, repealed.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That all laws in conflict with the above section be, and the same are hereby, repealed.

Approved, October 18, 1870.

This act was never published.

ACT OF 1872.

[Laws of Georgia (No. 21-O. No. 420), 1872, p. 26.]

AN ACT To make it punishable by law for any emigrant to this State to leave the service of his employer, who has paid the traveling expenses or passage money in coming to the State, unless said emigrant shall refund to his said employer the amount in full of the traveling expenses or passage money so advanced.

5. SECTION I. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Georgia, That, from and after the passage of this act, it shall not be lawful for any emigrant coming to this State, who has contracted with his employer to work for him, and in consideration of said con

tract his employer has advanced money to pay his traveling expenses or passage money in coming to the State, unless said emigrant shall refund to his said employer the full amount so advanced.

6. SEC. II. Be is further enacted, That any person violating the provisions of this act shall be punished as prescribed in section 4245 of the Code of Georgia.

SEC. III. Repeals conflicting laws.
Approved, August 27, 1872.

ACTS OF 1873.

I.

[Laws of Georgia (No. XXXVII-O. No. 8), 1873, p. 34.]

AN ACT To repeal an act entitled "An act to make it punishable by law for any immigrant to this State to leave the service of his employer who has paid the traveling expenses or passage money in coming to the State, unless said immigrant shall refund to his said employer the amount in full of the traveling expenses or passage money so advanced," approved August 27, 1872.

15. SECTION I. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Georgia, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passage of this act the above recited act be, and the same is hereby, repealed.

Approved, February 5th, 1873.
(NOTE.-See act of 1872, p. 26.)

II.

[Laws of Georgia (No. XLI-O. No. 292), 1873, p. 37.]

AN ACT To repeal an act approved August 27, 1872, entitled "An act to make it punishable by law for any immigrant to this State to leave the service of his employer who has paid the traveling expenses or passage money in coming to this State, unless said immigrant shall refund to his employer the amount in full of the traveling expenses or passage money so advanced."

21. SECTION I. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Georgia, That an act entitled "An act to make it punishable by law for any immigrant to this State to leave the service of his employer who has paid the traveling expenses or passage money in coming to this State, unless said immigrant shall refund to his said employer the amount in full of the traveling expenses or passage money so advanced," approved August 27, 1872, be, and the same is hereby, repealed.

Approved, February 24, 1873.

ACT OF 1875.

[Laws of Georgia (No. XX-0. No. 107), 1875, p. 21.]

AN ACT To repeal section 2676 of the Code of 1873 prescribing the manner in which aliens may hold lands in Georgia.

Whereas there is a conflict between sections 2676 and 1661 of the Code of 1873; and whereas it has been and is the policy of this State to secure to aliens the subjects of Governments at peace with the