Mr. President. early in January I introduced a bill similar to the one now pending. It was referred to the Committee on Immigration. who took it up and duly considered it. A short time subsequently a like bill was introduced into the House of Representatives. passed that body. came to the Senate. and was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor. of which I have the honor to be a member. It was duly considered by that committee. and referred to the Committee on Immigration. That committee took the House bill. amended it. and it has been upon our Calendar for several weeks. I really feel greatly disappointed and I believe it will be against the best interests of the people of this country if this bill should fail to become a law. There is no reason why the people of any Territory of the United States or any State in the Union. should be exempt from the provisions of the law which provides that no contract laborer can come into the United States. As a matter of fact. the people of Hawaii are today importing into those islands thousands and thousands of Japanese peons and other servile laborers. for whose labor they are contracting for onehalf. aye. for onethird. of what the beetsugar raisers of California and Nebraska and the canesugar raisers of Louisiana are paying for their labor. Early in January I addressed a communication to Mr. Powderly. CommissionerGeneral of Immigration. and I send that communication to the desk and ask that it may be read. for the information of the Senate. I trust when this question is considered. even in this closing hour of this Fiftyfifth Congress. that we shall act upon it. and that the bill may yet become a law.
Keywords matched
Immigration contract laborer