Yesterday week, Lord Salisbury introduced his Aliens Bill, which he
assured the Government he had no intention at all of pressing on them against their will, but he thought that it would be more convenient for a private Member to introduce it, than for the Government to ask for fresh powers without any prompting from outside. The Bill has since been published, and its two main provisions are (1) that at certain English ports at which immigrants usually arrive there shall be inspectors appointed by the Board of Trade to inspect the immigrant passengers, and to prohibit at their own discretion the landing of any immigrant who is an idiot, insane, a pauper likely to become chargeable on the English public, or who is suffering from any dangerous, contagious, or infectious disease ; (2) whenever, any of the principal Secretaries of State has reason to believe, that for the preservation of the peace and tranquillity of this country, or for the prevention of crime either here or abroad, it is expedient to remove any alien who may be in this country, he may cause an order under his hand to be published in the London Gazette directing the alien named in it to depart. And if he refuses to depart, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, for which the Court that convicts him of it may order him to be imprisoned for any time not exceeding one month for the first offence, or twelve months for the second.
Previous page
