It provides that no one who is over sixteen years of age shall be allowed
to come into the country if not able to read. The bill passed both Houses,
and was sent to President Cleveland for his signature.

Some people thought that he would not sign the bill, because it is good
for us to let all the immigrants into the country who want to come. Others
hope that he did sign it, because they think we ought to be very careful
about the kind of people we allow to enter our country, and share its
privileges with us.

The present immigration laws are very strict. Every foreigner who comes to
our shores has to satisfy the authorities at Ellis Island as to his
worthiness, before he can be allowed to land.

Ellis Island is in New York harbor, and is used solely for the handling of
immigrants.

Every ship that carries immigrants is obliged to furnish the authorities
at Ellis Island with lists of these passengers, and full information about
them. The steerage passengers are landed at Ellis Island, the lists are
given to the clerks, and the immigrants have to pass before these clerks,
and answer all their questions before they are allowed to enter our
country.

Before they come to the desks where the clerks sit, they have to pass two
by two before some doctors, who watch very carefully to see if there are
any lame or deformed persons among them. If any such are found, the
doctors separate them from the rest, and they are carefully examined to
see what their trouble is.