Speech #460087203

I rise for the purpose of saying that in the main features of this bill I heartily coacur. I disagree with my friend from Michigan. that New York is to be particularly benefited by the passage of this bill. I do not think any city would desire to have the honor of being the entrep6t of all the foreign immigration coming into this country. A few weeks ago I visited Castle Garden myself. and know the city of New York is engaged in a wise and humane policy toward the immigrants who arrive at that place. It is true when she had the benefit of the capitation or head tax. that money was used. as Ifirmly believe. for the purpose of feeding the immigrants who arrived there and who were unable to provide for themselves. I know today that State is making appropriation out of its treasury for the purpose of feeding the poor immigrants who arrive in New York. and for the purpose of sending them on to their several destinations. I know that today a large corps of clerks and officers. appointed under the author"ity of the State of New York. is engaged in carrying out the wise and humane policy adopted by that State. Now. sir. the question of foreign immigration is dne that I am glad to know has presented itself before this honorable body. The State of California. which I have the honor in part to represent. has been knocking at the door of the National Legislature for many years asking that the Congress of the United States should pass some bill to relieve that State and the Pacific coast from the evils of Chinese immigration. I have. therefore. offered as an amendment to this bill a clause which. in addition to paupers and insane persons. deaf and dumb and blind persons. provides that no persons shall come in any greater number than fifteen at any one time on any one vessel who. under the laws of the United States. are denied the rightof naturalization. My amendment. Mr. Chairman) looks to the idea that there is a calamity oven greater than permitting deaf and dumb and blind and paupers. and even criminals. ia the sense referred to in this bill. to come into this country. The State of California has for the past thirty years been suffering from a floodtide of Mongolian slaves. who have been and are a curse to the prosperity of that great State. I am glad to know that my friend from New York. who I see across the way. has been in California and seen something of this question. and I had hoped he had sufficient cause to change his views thereon. When the bill relating to Chinese immigrants MRm 22. was before this House a little over a year ago he gave it a negative vote-