Mr. President. the action of the Canadian government. to which reference is made. was before the CommissionerGeneral of Immigration when he advised the committee that the increase of the head tax was necessary to enable our Gvernment to properly execute the immigration laws. The CommissionerGeneral. in his report for the year ending June 30. 1902. says: It is with unmixed gratification that the Bureau reports recent action by the parliament of the Canadian Dominion excluding from admission thereto aliens afflicted with loathsome and dangerous contagioLs diseases. This legislation has not as yet been put into operation by order in council but it is learned that it soon will be. and the Bureau feels assured that when such action is taken the most discouraging factor in the administration of the provisions of the immigration laws for the exclusion of disease will have been removed. Mr. President. the junior Senator from Massachusetts has expressed in the main the Views I entertain upon the measure now under consideration. I do not believe the head tax should be onerous or that it should be imposed for any ulterior purpose. I do believe that the immigrant should himself bear all of the expense necessary to administer our immigration laws. If buildings are needed for an immigrant station. if hospitals are necessary at ports of entry for the purpose of caring for the aliens afflicted. I believe the expense should be borne. not by the people of the United States. but by those who are desirous of entering this country and enjoying our hospitality. There is an equity in it.
Keywords matched
Immigration head tax immigration immigrant