41 
IV 
SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF RECENT IMMIGRATION 
Difficulty of Special Studies 
Many persons who have spoken and written of late 
years in favor of restriction of immigration, have laid 
great stress upon the evils to society arising from im 
migration. They have claimed that disease, pauperism, 
crime and vice have been greatly increased through the 
incoming of the immigrants. Perhaps no other phase 
of the question has aroused so keen feeling, and yet 
perhaps on no other phase of the question has there 
been so little accurate information. 
It is doubtful whether the increased number of 
convictions for crime are found because more crimes 
are committed, or because our courts and the police 
are more active. It is probable that we hear more of 
vice and immorality in these late days, not because 
they are on the increase, but because people’s con 
sciences have become more sensitive, and in conse 
quence greater efforts are made to suppress them. 
It is certain that the injurious effect of most con 
tagious diseases has been very greatly lessened, and 
yet it is probable that we hear more regarding con 
tagious diseases now than ever before because we have 
become more watchful. 
The data regarding contagious diseases, pauperism, 
and crime, in connection with the immigrants, are 
extremely meager and unsatisfactory; but the Immi 
gration Commission made the best use possible of