Mr. Speaker. in closing the debate on this question I do not desire to take up the time of the House and to again enter into a general discussion of the subject. but I desire to more particularly address myself to the bill proposed as an amendment by the gentleman from Pennsylvania and to some of his statements made upon this floor yesterday. I do not think it is the intention of this House to slander the naturalized citizens of this country. and for that reason I take it upon myself to answer some of the palpable misstatements made by my friend from Pennsylvania. Among other things he said that 50 per cent of the inmates of the penitentiaries and prisons of this country were foreigners. The statement. Mr. Speaker. almost took my breath away. and even today I can hardly find language to express my surprise at such a statement. the accuracy or inaccuracy of which every member of this House can ascertain within ten minutes. The fact is. as the census shows. that in the prisons and in all institutions of the kind in the countrythe total number being 82.329the nativeborn prisoners number 40.471 and the foreign born 15.932. Percentage of natives. 71.75. of foreign born. 28.25. Then as to paupers: I find in the Compendium of the Censusand that is in the possession of every member of this Housethat the percentage of purely native paupers is 82.61. paupers of purely foreign origin. 13.75 per cent. and of mixed origin. 3 per cent.
Identified stereotypes
Claims that 50% of inmates are foreigners.