Speech #570092860

It seems to me it would be unjust were we to impose this burden upon our own people. What is $3 for admission into all the privileges which Americans enjoy? It is certainly a very moderate tax. and one which can be easily borne and which will be cheerfully paid when it is remembered that it is to be used to maintain the immigration service. The fact is shown by testimony before the committee. as stated by the junior Senator from Massachusetts. that largely increased expenses will be incurred in the enforcement of the laws along the Canadian border and along the Mexican border as well. Then it will be observed that there is an imperative demand for additional facilities at the port of New York and also at the port of Boston. Permit me to read a paragraph from the report of the CommissionerGeneral of Immigration as to the necessity of increased facilities at Boston: The port next in importance to New York is that of Boston. Not near so many aliens seek an entrance there as at the former port. but the number is nevertheless large. and the conditions involved in the enforcement of the law there are in some respects more embarrassing than at any other Eastern port. It receives. as New Y ork also receives. alien passengers coming there at regular intervals by transAtlantic lines. but it also has what New York does not have to contend withthe embarrassment of handling passengers brought from Canadian ports. Some of the latter are Canadians. of whom no head tax can be collected under the provisions of law. and some are Europeans who have resided a greater or less time in the Dominion. Besides these there is an unceasing flow of countless small craft. schooners. etc.. coming from various points in maritime Canada and arriving at all times. inspection of each one of which must be made to detect and prevent violations of the immigration laws. It requires no argument to prove that these conditions are such as to tax the ingenuity. industry. patience. and good sense of the inspection officers. even if every aid in the power of Congress to provide were furnished at that port. As a matter of fact. nothing has been furnished at Boston except a few office rooms on Long Wharf as a central meeting place for the officers. the conduct of clerical work and official correspondence and the filing of records. The result is thus graphically stated in a report oi Commissioner Billings. to whose unflagging energy and fidelity to the service it is a pleasure to bear witness: For the fiscal year ending June 30 instant. we shall have examined between 42.000 and 43.000 alien immigrants from transAtlantic ports. We shall also have examined about 20.000 aliens from Nova Scotian ports. These figures do not include American citizens in either case. which would swell the total byabout 30.000. * * * "At New York the immigrants are landed at one place. The boarding officers at that port examine (only) the cabin passengers aboard ship. At Philadelphia and Baltimore the passenger ships stop at one place. At Boston we examine the cabin passengers on the ship. But instead of discharging the immigrants at one central point. we have to go to at least eight different. widely separated docks to make our examinations. We also have to examine the Nova Scotia passengers at their decks and have to sign cattlemen at different places. so that we are liable to heat South Boston. East Boston. Charlestown. Ohelea. and the city proper the same day." This condition seems sufficiently serious to call for reform simply in the interest of an effective economy of the services of administrative officers. but the importance of erecting a landing station is reenforced by the fact that detained immigrants must be kept on board the various vessels on which they were brought until their cases are finally disposed of. This means serious discomfort to the immigrants themselves. the wide separation at the same time of the inspectors and other officers. and the chance of a defeat of the purposes contemplated by the law through communicatin with and coaching by outside persons interested in landing proscribed aliens or their escape. Ihave therefore to recommend t he subject be caliled to the attention of Congress. with the urgent request that an appropriation be made for the building of a suitable immigrant station at the port of Boston. Mr. President. how much will be required to carry out the recommendation of the CommissionerGeneral I do not know. but. judging from our experience at Ellis Island. the sum will necessarily be large. In the interest of the service I visited Ellis Island a few weeks ago. There I discovered that the conditions are such as to call loudly and imperatively for a very large appropriation by Congress. Several hundred thousand dollars will be needed to enlarge the buildings and improve the facilities therne in thecinterest of the immigrants themselves. Who. Mr.