Speech #570083722

The amendment says. page 4. line 21. of the bill: All personsNote the wordsover 15 years of age and physically capable of reading. who can not read the English language or some other language. The section denies admission to "all" persons. Thus it affects the immigration into the United States from Canada and Mexico. and applies. not only to the elements all wish to exclude. but also to the citizens of those countries along our border. north and south. who daily come into the United States for trade or otherwise and return to their homes at nightfall. It would apply to the 70.000 migratory "birds of passage" that annually come into New England at the beginning of the labor season and return at the end thereof. The test would have to be applied daily and would thus be so obnoxious as to provoke immediate retaliatory legislation by our neighbors. and there are quite as many citizens of this country who cross the Canadian line for trade and work as there are of the Canadians who cross the line for like purposes to this country. Should this view be held to be correct. then the proviso. commencing on line 18. page 5. of the bill. designating certain places through which alone "all persons " may enter. acts with still more rigid force. for every citizen of Canada. for instance. from Vanceboro. Me.. along the frontier to Newport. Vt.. would have to enter the United States. if only to do a days shopping. at those two places or "be adjudged to have entered the country unlawfully and shall be deported as by law provided." I leave it to your good sense and sound judgment whether the matter in the educational test in the House bill should remain in that crude form. and if I am not justified in deprecating the addition of such a monstrosity to my committee bill as originally framed. I feel it my duty to most strenuously urge you to do one of two things. either to strike those sections from the bill. leaving it. as at first intended. a bill purely for the administration of the immigration service. or to incorporate in lieu thereof provisions to accomplish the purpose desired in a logical. effective. scientific. and unobjectionable manner. Assuming that the vote of the House indicates a demand by the country for an educational test to be applied to aliens seeking admission to the United States. why not perfect such legislation in the best possible manner instead of placing upon the statute book a measure so crude and amateurish. With the hope that this suggestion may meet your approval.