I think I may safely say. one thousand times during the three months debate in this Chamber upon the tariff bill now under discussion. whereas it appears that as a matter of fact we have begun the system o protection at the wrong end. or. at least. we are not conducting our legislation in a successful way. It occurred to me. as I took occasion to state to the Senate a few days ago. that it would be well for us to adopt what is commonly known as the consular system. which has been debated a good deal. but the more I talk with my fellowSenators and my fellowmen upon the subject the more l am satisfied that that systom will not be effective. I have finally come to the conclusion (I do not know howlong itwill be a conclusion) thatwe could reach what we want probably more in accord with the common sentiment of mankind an d with what we desire to accomplish by some measure of levying a tax upon certain classes of immigrants. I have information. and so have all of us. that a great many immigrants come here in the spring of the year. take American wages during the summer and fall months. then go to their oames again across the Atlantic and spend the winter there. takng away from our shores just so much money as ought to have been given to our people. So there is another class who come. They are skilled mechanics. skilled laborers. who come early in the spring. like stonecutters. gasfitters. plumbers. men of that kind. who will come and work during the summer at high wageswages that have been secured by our American workmenand go back again in the fall.
Identified stereotypes
Immigrants are described as taking American wages and then spending the winter in their home countries, and skilled laborers are described as coming to work during the summer at high wages and then going back in the fall.