The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1923. POPULATION FOR AMERICA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 80, 9 August 1923, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1923. POPULATION FOR AMERICA.

A recent cablegram recorded that there was the keenest competition among trans-Atlantic steamers to land their immigrants in America hefore the August quotas were filled. Recent cases in which people from England, both emigrants and firstclass passengers, have been seit to the United States immigration depot at Ellis Island caused some bewilderment, so that it may be useful to give a summary of the position. Under the immigration lawq a "quota" is laid down for each European country—that is, the number of "immigrants" (persons who intend to stay in the United States more than six months) who will be admitted in the year. The'e has been no practical difficulty until the,

last few weeks, because the British quota has never been filled. Recently the figures have been going up. The "quota" year ends with June, and before that month was up the full number was arranged for, so that no bookings of British immigrants could be made until the beginning of July. The question naturally raised is, "How has it come about that the steamship companies have sent more emigrants than are allowed by the monthly quota?" It is obviously a complex and difficult business for the companies, who are, of course, competing with each other for passengers, to avoid exceeding the quota Elaborate machinery exists for keeping tally with the quota. The British lines plying to America are represented on the Brussels Conference, which regulates emigration tn America from all the European countries. The British lines have their headquarters in Liverpool, where a register is kept of the booked under the "non-exempt" categories.' The companies concerned are thus enabled to know more or less exactly the portion from day to. day. The responsibility for seeing that the quota is observed rests upon the companies. If more passengers are sent out than can be admitted there are apparently one of two alternativescither the passenger has made a wrong declaration or the local agent who signs the contract has not taken every precaution. It should be noted that a steamship company which sends out a passenger who is not entitled to'land is liable to a heavy fine as well as thp oligation of bringing the passenger back. There is naturally no allocation of passengers between the various 1 companies. Each books as many passengers as it can within the quota. When the quota is full booking stops for the period. It is a common misconception that the quota only applies to emigrants who are third-class passengers. It applies to everyone who intends to stay in America more than six months. It is claimed that every care is taken by« the shipping authorities not to exceed the quota, and where this has been done the explanation probably is either that misleading information has been given by the passenger, which is only detected when he or she lands at New York, or else the necessary information has not been supplied to the registering office in Liver-' pool. i