ment of Agriculture, we have sent out several thousand farm hands 

 in each year. They are migratory birds. There is no society for 

 them out in the country, nobody to speak their language. They drift 

 back to the cities. If they are very good and stay a while, the rail- 

 road companies catch on to them; they are the kind they want for 

 train-men. They are responsible as much as anything for depleting 

 the rural population of its thrifty young man, and it is up to them 

 now to help to solve this question (laughter); but I guess they are 

 going to do it, by what President Brown and the others say. The 

 Commission of Immigration .appointed by the Governor reported al- 

 most unanimously a bill introduced by Assemblyman Parker, of Wash- 

 ington County, as they believed it would assist greatly in the distri- 

 bution of immigration, and not only that, but in their protection and 

 education. It was considered seriously as to whether this could be 

 placed in another department, but it was believed by the Commission 

 that it would only disorganize and hamper the work, both of that 

 department and the Commission. (Mr. Larmon here read the pur- 

 poses of the bill referred to). That was the object of the bill in 

 the main. It covers several features for the protection, education 

 and distribution of the immigrant in other ways. 



"This cost of living, of the class of people of whom I am speak- 

 ing, is appalling. The cheapening of the conditions of life in any 

 way entail upon the father of a family a poorer habitation, less whole- 

 some food ; and that simply leads to degeneracy, want, privation, crime 

 and insanity. The records show an increase of 35 per cent, in cases 

 of insanity and these have increased for years. Our expenses for 

 caring for the insane have been one million dollars in the last two 

 years; in twenty years that has risen to more than seven millions. 

 The population of the State has grown 30 per cent., and the care 

 of the insane has increased 700 per cent. Where is it going to end? 

 Isn't it up to the State, and the great interests of the State to get up 

 and do something? 



"This question of forming a central organization around which 

 all other organizations can center and co-operate, is afforded by that 

 measure, and I firmly believe that it ought to pass. I do not know 

 of anything further that I can say on the subejct without taking too 

 much time. I thank you for your attention." 



HON. JOHN W. DWIGHT: 



"If Congressman Bennet of New York would tell us something 

 about immigration, he is well acquainted with that subject." 



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