Speech #520151367

Mr. Speaker. the Congress of the United States for a number of years has been touching this question very gingerly. It is admitted in nearly all quarters that there is necessity not only for a regulation of immigration. but for considerable restrictions upon it. I had the honor to serve upon two committees charged with investigating this subject. and I became fully satisfied as to the law that we ought to have. * But no one has ever yet been able to induce Congress to go as far as I think it ought to go in this direction. The time has passed when there is necessity or excuse for receiving into this country more than a half million of immigrants per an numfor receiving all the -immigration that comes. And while the present law. if efficiently enforced. excludes certain classes. I think any gentleman who will go to where immigrants are examinedfor instance. New York or Boston. especially New Yorkand see with what expedition immigrants are put through. will learn that the examinationis amere farce. it is not efficient at all. There is an opposition to an increase of the head fhoney or head tax. This tax is now but 50 cents. and that yields such a small revenue that those charged with the enforcement of thd law have not sufficient funds provided for the care of the immigrants until suitable and thorough investigation can be made. This should b3 increased. so as to raise a sufficient amount to provide comfortable and extensive quarters for these people and their maintenance and comfort until they can be thoroughly examined on this side. I am also in favor of some kind of examination on the other side. I believe that consular examination and certification can be made valuable to a very large extent in keeping away undesirable characters. I have no opposition to the coming of good immigrants. such as will be a real acquisition to the country. But the law. while it denounces and excludes a great many objectionable ones if dnforced. is not under the present machinery sufficiently enforced to be of practical benefit. and this billI want to say the only virtue I can find about it is that it has nothing whatever in it. it is not worth passing.