You will admit. gentlemen. that it is unusual for a committee to report unanimously in favor of a bill covering a controversial subject. Such a report was made in favor of the bill reported by me to the House. That result was gained because the members of the committee sought to give to the House a comprehensive measure. symmetrical and harmonious in all its parts. and effective for the administration of the Bureau of Immigration. I The necessity of the law was imperative because no codification of the immigration laws had been made for twentyfive years. The work of the officers having charge of the enforcement of the law was hampered. not only by the restrictions of court decisions on laws already existing. but also by the absence of provisions of law needed to meet changed conditions. and evasions which experience had taught aliens and their importers how to easily make. The House bill as reported. therefore. may be said to have been framed with three things in view: First. to include all parts of existing laws which experience had proved effective or. which is of equal importance. had received the sanction of judicial interpretation. second. to insert such changes as were necessary to make the administration of the law conform to judicial decisions by which existing law had been made inoperative. third. to add such new provisions of law as were necessary to meet new or changed conditions. and bring within the purview of the public statutes certain features now only partially reached through decisions of the Treasury Department officials.
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