Speech #470088405

Speaker. I am aware that it may appear ungracious to speak against the passage of this bill. A number of bills similar to this have been before Congress during the last four or lIve years. since the Supreme Court decided against the tax that - had been imposed upon immigrants by the law of the State of New York. The city of New York. it is said. is receiving this year a million of immigrants. There has come into New York in this way a vast revenue. No city in the Union reaps so rich an income from immigration as the city of New York. It is impossible for the most insig3nificant immigrant to land in New York and get out of it without leaving one. two. three. four. or five dollars. Untold millions almost have been levied in the city of New York upon immigrants coming there. and compared with this sum the few dollars which that city has expended in charities for the benefit of immigrants are but as a drop in the bucket. Congress has been asked again and again to keep alive that tax upon a free immigration to the soil of America. I am radically opposed to imposing a charge of one dollar. or even fifty cents. upon any man. woman. or child who may land in the city of New York from any portion of the globe.