immigration commissioners; and in the absence of the state superintendent it shall be the duty of the secretary to furnish all required information regarding immigration matters to persons who may apply thereto.

SEC. 7. Be it further enacted, That as soon as organized it shall be the duty of the board of immigration commissioners to take the proper steps to collect reliable information appertaining to the functions of this bureau in regard to every county in this State; and for this purpose, as well as for the purpose of distributing and locating such immigrants as may be brought to the State through the agency of the bureau, it shall be the duty of the board of immigration commissioners to invite and encourage the organization of local boards of immigration commissioners in the several counties of the State; such auxiliary boards, however, to receive no pecuniary aid or assistance from the state board; the said board of immigration commissioners may also call upon the county commissioners of the several counties to assist them in the collection of the necessary statistics and information, and in the verification of the same; and the said board of commissioners shall procure, at the expense of the State, such maps and other drawings as may be necessary to properly illustrate the geographical, topographical, physical, agricultural, and other conditions of the State appertaining to the functions of this bureau.

SEC. 8. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the state superintendent of immigration to visit Europe once in each year for the purpose of soliciting immigration to this State and remain at least four months in the prosecution of his work visiting the different countries, having always a due regard to the character, circumstances, and desirability of the immigrants solicited or contracted with; during the remainder of the year he may devote such time as he may be able to absent himself from his office to the personal solicitation of immigration from other States of the Union and from Canada, and he may adopt such means of advertisement to that end as may commend themselves to his judgment, keeping himself always in his expenditures for this and other purposes within the appropriation for the support of this bureau.

SEC. 9. Be it further enacted, That the board of immigration commissioners shall have power to make contract with railroads, steamship lines, transportation companies, and masters of vessels, securing a low rate of transportation to immigrants, and to make the necessary arrangements for their reception and temporary accommodation. upon their arrival at Baltimore or other points in the State until they can be distributed and located in the different counties of the State.

SEC. 10. Be it further enacted, That the board of immigration commissioners shall meet quarterly at their office in Baltimore city, and at such other times as they may determine for the purpose of promoting the work for which this bureau is organized; and they shall make an annual report to the governor, to be by him laid before the general assembly at each regular session; said report shall contain an itemized statement of all money received by the board, and to whom and for what purpose paid (the vouchers for which expenditures shall be filed in the office of the bureau), the results at

tained or expected to be attained, the statistics of immigration and other kindred information, together with such suggestions as the board may think proper to make.

SEC. 11. Be it enacted, That the sum of five thousand dollars per year for the years 1896 and 1897 is hereby appropriated for the use of the bureau of immigration in carrying out the provisions of this article, said fund to be known and designated as the immigration fund, and the comptroller shall draw his warrant on said fund upon the requisition of the board of immigration commissioners.

SEC. 12. Be it enacted, That the first term of office of the board of immigration commissioners hereby appointed shall commence on the 1st day of May, in the year 1896, and if there be not sufficient opportunity after the adoption of this article for the governor to appoint such board, by and with the advise and consent of the senate at its present session, he is hereby authorized to make such appointment, subject to the approval of the senate at its next session: And be it enacted, That all acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

SEC. 13. Be it further enacted, That this act shall take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved, April 2, 1896.

ACT OF 1898.

[Maryland Laws, 1898, ch. 282, p. 837.]

AN ACT To repeal and reenact with amendments sections 6, 8, and 11 of the act of 1896, chapter 295, in relation to the " 'establishing of a bureau of immigration in and for the State of Maryland," and to add a new section thereto, to be designated as section 13.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Maryland, That sections 6, 8, and 11 of the act of 1896, chapter 295, relating to establishing a bureau of immigration in and for the State of Maryland, be, and the same are hereby, repealed and reenacted with amendments and that a new section be added to section 13, and to read as to said several sections as follows:

SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That the said board of immigration commissioners shall appoint a secretary, who shall be a person of good address and conversant with English, the German, Dutch, and French languages if practicable, who shall hold his office during the time of said board, unless his appointment shall be sooner revoked for cause; he shall receive a salary of twelve hundred dollars per annum upon the warrant of the comptroller, and he shall give bond in the sum of five thousand dollars, to be approved by the board of immigration commissioners for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office; it shall be the duty of the secretary to attend daily at the office of the bureau of immigration during the office hours as hereinbefore prescribed; to arrange and carefully file away and preserve all the records, statistics, pamphlets, and other data and documents of the office; keep the books of the bureau, conduct its correspondence, and perform such other duties pertaining to the functions of the bureau as may be required of him by the board of immigration commissioners; and in the absence of the state superintendent, it shall be the duty of the secretary to furnish all required information regarding immigration matters to persons who may apply thereto. And the said board is also authorized to appoint a clerk, who shall also act as stenographer and typewriter, at a salary not to exceed six hundred dollars per annum.

SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That if it shall appear necessary or desir able in order to promote the objects of the bureau, the state superintendent may

personally or through a special agent visit Canada or any of the States of the Union, for the purpose of inducing or attracting to this State such immigration as he shall deem desirable, and may also employ such other means of advertisement to that end as may commend themselves to his judgment, keeping himself for this and all other purposes, except salaries, within the appropriation for the expenses of this bureau.

SEC. 11. Be it further enacted, That the sum of three thousand dollars per year for the years 1898 and 1899 be, and the same is hereby, appropriated for the use of the bureau of immigration, for their expenses in carrying out the provisions of this article, said fund to be known and designated as the "Immigration fund," and the comptroller shall draw his warrant on said fund upon the requisition of the board of immigration commissioners, and the salaries of the superintendent and secretary shall be paid on the warrant of the comptroller and the requisition of the board of immigration commissioners out of any funds in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

SEC. 13. After the 1st day of January, 1900, the superintendent of immigration shall proceed to collect statistics and information concerning the various branches of industry in this State and the needs thereof.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved, April 7, 1898.

MASSACHUSETTS.

DIGEST OF IMMIGRATION AND ALIEN LAWS.

Act of 1816 (an act for promoting the sale and settlement of public lands in the district of Maine).-An act was passed in 1816 providing for the sale of lands in Maine belonging to Massachusetts on terms and conditions which would encourage the settlement of such land and promote their development. This act makes no direct reference to immigration and therefore is not published in this compilation.

Act of 1837 (an act relating to alien passengers).-The law of 1837 authorized public officers to examine the condition of alien passengers entering ports; to require bonds of indemnity against any such passengers becoming a public charge within ten years; to collect a tax of $2 for each passenger landing; and to compel pilots to anchor vessels at places appointed.

Act of 1840 (an act in addition to an act relating to alien passengers).The act of 1840 prescribed regulations governing public funds derived from the tax on alien passengers.

Act of 1843.--An act was passed in 1843 to incorporate the Boston Society for the Diffusion of Information Among Immigrants.

Act of 1845 (an act concerning alien passengers).-A statute was enacted in 1845 requiring town treasurers to pay balances of receipts from alien passengers into the treasury of the Commonwealth.

Act of 1848 (an act concerning alien passengers).-The act of 1848 provided for the appointment of superintendent of alien passengers; for the examination of alien passengers; for bonds of indemnity to protect the State against expenses incurred in behalf of aliens; and for publishing data concerning aliens.

Act of 1849 (an act concerning alien passengers).-The act of 1849 repeals sections of former acts relating to alien passengers not

bonded.

Act of 1850.-The act of 1850 requires a bond that aliens entering shall not become a public charge and provides strict regulations for the admission of aliens.

Act of 1851 (an act to appoint a board of commissioners in relation to alien passengers and state paupers).--The act of 1851 creates a board of commissioners to regulate the introduction of aliens into the Commonwealth and the support of state paupers.

Act of 1852 (an act concerning alien passengers).-The act of 1852 modified existing laws regulating the admission and residence of aliens.

(An act concerning the transit of alien passengers).-Under the authority of the act of 1853, money paid for landing alien passengers shall be refunded if such passengers leave the State within forty-eight hours after such payment.

Act of 1853 (an act relating to the commutation of bonds taken by superintendents of alien passengers).-By the act of 1853 commissioners of alien and state paupers were authorized to commute the

bonds taken by superintendents of aliens; and provision was made for the accounts for the support of persons for whom bonds were taken to be paid from the state treasury.

Act of 1854 (an act in addition to an act concerning the transit of alien passengers). The act of 1854 provides for fixing permanent responsibility for indemnity in event that any alien who is bonded, and whose bond is commuted, becomes a public charge within five years.

Act of 1855 (an act in addition to an act to appoint a board of commissioners in relation to alien passengers and state paupers).The act of 1855 repealed the prior act of 1851 and regulated the compensation of agents of the board.

Act of 1856 (an act relating to the board of commissioners on alien passengers and state paupers).-A board of commissioners on alien passengers and state paupers was created by the act of 1856. Act of 1865.-An act was passed in 1865 repealing certain provisions of law respecting alien passengers.

Act of 1866 (an act concerning alien passengers on vessels coming from without the United States).-The act of 1866 amends the regulations governing alien passengers and State paupers.

Act of 1869 (an act to amend chapter seventy-one of the general statutes relating to alien passengers).-Provision is made by the act of 1869 for alien passengers to be under the supervision of a general agent of the board of State charities.

Act of 1870.--An act was passed in 1870 repealing certain provisions respecting alien passengers and reenacting others.

Act of 1872 (an act in relation to alien passengers).--The act of 1872 authorizes the consolidation in one bond of all cases in which bonds are required for alien passengers.

Resolution of 1883 (resolve concerning the supervision of immigration). The resolution of 1883 approved an agreement relating to immigration entered into by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States and the state board of health, lunacy, and charity.

Resolutions of 1892 (resolve providing for an investigation of the burdens imposed on the Commonwealth by the immigration of paupers and criminals).--The resolutions of 1892 authorize the appointment of a board of commissioners to investigate the effect upon the Commonwealth of the migration of dependent persons, paupers, and criminals from other States.

IMMIGRATION AND ALIEN LAWS.

ACT OF 1837.

[Massachusetts State Laws, 1837, ch. 238, p. 270.]

AN ACT Relating to alien passengers.

Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives, in general court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: SECTION 1. When any vessel shall arrive at any port or harbor within this State, from any port or place without the same, with alien passengers on board, the officer or officers whom the mayor and aldermen of the city or the selectmen of the town where it is pro