Speech #570092757

My opinion is that it goes into the Treasury generally. The suggestion. I think. is made in the report of the committee that there will be some extra expenses connected with the administration of the amended law. and hence they think it is desirable to get more money out of what is called the head tax. I think there is very little force in the suggestion. The committees of both Houses seem to have assumed that the failure of Congress in the past to impose the head tax on aliens crossing the frontier was an oversight. whereas as a matter of fact Congress for twenty years has refused to make this charge fdr good and sufficient reasons: and in 1884 Congress took notice of the fact that the head tax did not apply to aliens entering the country by land carriage. Mr. President. that is one of the objections I have to this proposed legislation. that while heretofore the tax has been charged against the steanrship companiesand the railroads. as I understand. have some understanding with the steamship companiesnow it is proposed to impose it upon every alien that crosses the frontier in a railroad train or by any other mode of carriage. I think I shall be able to show that it is not only to be a great burden. but it is to be an inconvenience that the traveling public on the northern border will not submit to with very goodgrace. The provision of the law to which I have just called attention is: That until the provisions of section 1. chapter 376. of the laws of 1882. shall be made applicable to passengers coming into the United States by land carriage. Which never has been donesaid provisions shall not apply to passengers coming by vessels employed exclusively in the trade between the ports of the United States and the ports of the Doninion of Canada or the ports of Mexico. (See. 22 of the act approved June 26. 1884.) To understand the effect of the imposition of the head tax on passengers coming overland. let me cite an illustration. and if I do not state it correctly some member of the committee will of course point out the mistake that I shall make. A tourist coming over the Canadian border is usually not a citizen or resident of Canada. and the railroad company will be taxed $3 every time a tourist crosses the line into thb United States. I ask the chairman of the committee if that is his understanding of the bill?