IMMIGRANTS AS CHARITY SEEKERS.

METHOD AND SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION.

to determine to what extent immigrants are the recipients the Immigration Commission planned an extensive investiering this phase of the immigration question. In addition inal investigation the Commission has compiled existing tistics relative to immigrants and pauperism. This comrms Part II of the Commission's complete report on immicharity seekers and consists of statistics from the United eau of the Census and the United States Bureau of ImmiNaturalization, covering the period from 1850 to 1908. ing this investigation it would have been highly desirable nformation not only from organized city charity societies, m societies which confine their efforts to relieving the povecific races, and from societies which are organized within es for the purpose of looking after the poor. To conduct estigation even in a few cities would be almost impossible, mmission therefore decided that, in addition to securing rmation relative to charitable assistance received by immithe industrial communities selected for study, it would o secure data relative to aid furnished immigrants during eriod by the charity organizations of a considerable numer was thoroughly discussed with Mr. Francis H. McLean, ary of the Field Department for the Extension of Organin the United States, and a plan was devised to secure tion by preparing a suitable blank form which should be e charity societies of the various cities selected for study. e or form was drafted, on which information was to be each member of the family at home for each case, native orn, receiving assistance during a period of six months, ber 1, 1908, to May 31, 1909. The report for Boston, ts, however, includes only the new cases assisted during The information required for each case was apparent and aid given, and for each individual was race, sex, condition, occupation, and country of birth, and for the individuals the additional information of years in the s, ability to speak English, and political condition. No made of a case unless some assistance was given. The required was entered on this schedule by an employee y, usually the registrar, and for this service a small

payment was made by the Commission. A representative of the Commission visited these societies, with the exception of those in the far West, giving instructions as to the use of the schedule. Mr. McLean was of the greatest assistance to the Commission both in arranging for securing the desired information from the various societies and in assisting in preparing the blank form.

The schedule or form used in collecting the information and the instructions which were printed on the back of each schedule are shown on pages 687, 726, and 727.

In addition to the instructions printed on the back of each schedule personal instructions relative to filling the forms were given by an agent of the Commission, as has been already stated. After the filled schedules were returned to the Commission they were closely examined, and when necessary the slips were returned to the societies for further information or for corrections.

The study of immigrants as charity seekers made by the Immigration Commission includes the work done by the charity organization societies during the six months from December 1, 1908, to May 31, 1909, in 43 cities. The cities are

A report was also furnished by the charity organization society of Honolulu, Hawaii.

No figures are available showing, by race or people, the population of the cities included in this investigation. The census of 1910, however, will compile data by race or people (mother tongue), and a comparison of this report with the census will clearly establish the proportion of persons of each race who receive assistance from charity organization societies.

GENERAL NATIVITY AND RACE.

mmary table which follows shows for each of the 43 cities ch information was secured the number of cases reported. vidual or family asking assistance the charity society calls a and the term is used throughout this report to mean an I or family assisted by some one of the societies furnishing As before stated, no report was made of a case unless istance was given. The data are presented by general and race, or people, of head of case. In a case consisting y the "head of case" is the husband, if living at home, or f a widow or deserted. In a case where there is no family, nstance as brothers and sisters, the "head of case" is the on whom falls the responsibility of providing; or if such lity is apparently fairly divided the "head of case" is the o makes application for assistance.

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