Speech #570065218

Will the gentleman from Pennsylvania permit me to call his attention to section 13 of this bill? The section provides generally for a list or manifest to be made out by the master of the vessel. showing the character of the person whom he is shipping over here. and it says that list or manifest shall be verified "by the signature and the oath or affirmation of the master or commanding officer or the first or second below him in command. taken before an immigration officer at the port of arrival. to the effect that he has caused the surgeon of said vessel sailing therewith to make a physical and oral examination of each of said aliens. and that from the report of said surgeon and from his own investigation he believes that no one of said aliens is an idiot. or insane person. or a pauper. or is likely to become a public charge. or is suffering from a loathsome or a dangerous contagious disease. or is a person who has been convicted of a felony or other crime or misdemeanor." etc. That is the only provision in this bill to exclude exconvicts from our shores. that the captain of the ship. interested in getting all the money he can from the people whom he brings over here. sends the surgeon of his own ship down to examine the people and see whether they have loathsome diseases. and on the report of that physician this officer makes oath that he thinks the man has never been convicted of a felony. It is a perfect farce on the face of it.