President. the situation of this bill and the proposed amendment is this: The bill on the 20th of July passed the House of Representatives. It is absolutely simple in its provisions. It requires that every alien immigrant coming to this country to make his permanent home here shall procure from the consul nearest to his place of residence a certificate showing that he is entitled to come into the United States under existing law. and it provides that regulations for the enforcement of this requirement shall be made by the Secretary of State. In other words. the bill nominally provides for a system of compulsory consular certificates. It does not. however. provide any penalty if an immigrant does not have such a certificate. it does not even say that he shall be excluded from entering and remaining in the country. If he does not procure the certificate which the law says he shall bring. then the question whether or not he can enter depends as before. upon the provisions of now existing law. He may be admitted or he may not be admitted according to the present law. So the bill as it has come from the House is the mildest possible requirement of consular certificates from immigrants seeking to enter this country. In nearly every bill which has been introduced into Congress during recent years there has been inserted in some forma provision for a consular certificate such as is contemplated by thiis bill as it cornes from the House. but never until this time has such a law passed either House. I am in favor of the passage of the bill in its present form without delay. If I could have my own way and have that done which I believe to be for the true interests of the country. I should have this bill pass the Senate today and sent to the President for his signature. But the Secretary of State. the Secretary of the Treasury. and the officials of the Government engaged in administering the present immigration laws. I believe without exception. oppose the passage of the bill as it comes to the Senate from the House.
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immigrants immigration immigrant