Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/40

 26 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

munity. The regulations provide, that is to say, for payment of the cost of care and maintenance in hospital from the date of notification to that of the alien's deportation, out of the Immi- grant Fund created by the head-tax collected from the steam- ship companies. The progressive Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, indeed, as long ago as 1894, entered into a contract with the federal government under the terms of which payment is made from the Immigrant Fund in cases also of aliens who become public charges within one year of the date of landing from causes arising subsequent thereto. Such cases, of course, are not subject to deportation. The point to be emphasized, how- ever, is the relief of the community from the burden of support- ing those who have no claim of citizenship or "settlement." * Nevertheless the reputation of our immigrant population has suffered by reason of the acts of a fractional number who con- stitute what is loosely termed the criminal class.

It is an unfortunate fact that the criminal, like the poor, is always with us. Eventually, doubtless, the one class will disap- pear with the other since each becomes more anomalous with advancing civilization. Both are largely the result of conditions for which the individual units are not wholly responsible; both deserve sympathetic and humane treatment. But with the recog- nition of these common principles there occurs a parting of the ways. In a practical consideration of the problem the delinquent class is to be treated as a positive and the dependent class as a negative menace to society. The difference from the immigra- tion standpoint is sufficiently definitive to be recognized in legis- lation.

In a consideration of the principles involved it is important justly to determine the status of the convicted offender against

•The steamship companies are assessed a head-tax of $4.00 on every alien admitted to the United States. In view of the fact that this tax is paid indirectly by the immigrants, and included in the cost of their transportation, they appear justly entitled to an emergency claim upon the fund created by their contributions. This is a right emphasized by the fact that under nor- mal conditions there has remained a considerable surplus in the Immigrant Fund after payment of all expenses incidental to the maintenance of the U. S. Immigration Service.