Your interpretation of the steerage act as an attempt to make immigration more costly is interesting. The only part that seems relevant is the limit of two passengers for every five tons of ship burden. It should be easy enough to check on whether that was a binding constraint. Prior to the act, what was the usual ratio of passengers to tonnage? Do you know?
Your interpretation of the steerage act as an attempt to make immigration more costly is interesting. The only part that seems relevant is the limit of two passengers for every five tons of ship burden. It should be easy enough to check on whether that was a binding constraint. Prior to the act, what was the usual ratio of passengers to tonnage? Do you know?
No, I don’t- but it’s an interesting question. Still, it stands as a scientific wild-assed guess (SWAG) that regulations would tend to make ticket prices more expensive. Shame there weren’t regulations governing the provision of lifeboats.
I found a relatively good source on the subject though. It’s quite possible that the bill was a well-intentioned, but ineffective means of dealing with terrible conditions. It’s also quite possible the bill would have garnered support from nativists aware that prices would likely rise.
Your interpretation of the steerage act as an attempt to make immigration more costly is interesting. The only part that seems relevant is the limit of two passengers for every five tons of ship burden. It should be easy enough to check on whether that was a binding constraint. Prior to the act, what was the usual ratio of passengers to tonnage? Do you know?
No, I don’t- but it’s an interesting question. Still, it stands as a scientific wild-assed guess (SWAG) that regulations would tend to make ticket prices more expensive. Shame there weren’t regulations governing the provision of lifeboats.
I found a relatively good source on the subject though. It’s quite possible that the bill was a well-intentioned, but ineffective means of dealing with terrible conditions. It’s also quite possible the bill would have garnered support from nativists aware that prices would likely rise.
https://www.history.com/news/steerage-act-immigration-19th-century