Now. Mr. Speaker. as the bill passed the House. no matter how bright or competent. no matter with what degree of accomplishments the wife might come as an immigrant to our shores. if she brought with her an illiterate husband he could not enter. As to the proposition made in the conference report. it refers to both the husband and the wife. I agree that if an admissible wife should come to these shores accinpanied by a husband who is not admissible under this test. then if the wife proposed to take up her residence here there would be a separation of families. I want to address myself to this proposition. which is urged in opposition to the conference report. and I want to do so with reference to what are the known conditions of things so far as immigration goes. If this test is to be applied in the future. then it will be known in all the countries whence our immigration comes that the test will be applied before admission to citizenship in this country. There is no trouble about knowledge on that subject on~the other side of the water. There is a great and mighty agency at work. One of the agents of the steamship lines engaged in transporting immigrants to our shores said before the House committee. "We have our agents in every village and hamlet of Europe." This was said in the discussion of what was known as the Stone bill. and it shows that there need be no concern about this matter. for the reason that the steamship companies are looking anxiously to see that they do not bring to this country inadmissible immigrants. whom they would be obliged to return at their own expense. And I want to say. in passing. that this very proposition is also contained in the bill as it comes from conference. It applies that articular provision of law to those who shall come under this ill as well as under the law as compiled in 1893.
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immigrants immigration immigrant