Speech #570092887

I desire to ask of him. or of some one else who has been having this bill in charge. a question. I want to premise. however. by saying that I am not opposed to this measure. I believe that we ought to have some improvement in our immigration laws. and I hope this bill affords it. lam willing to be governed. as far as I can. by the judgment of the committee in that respect. but before I vote for this bill or any of the controverted propositions in it I want to understand it. That is the only reason why I rise to make someinquiry. Before I put the question. I wish. however. to remark that I am not opposed. at least not as at present advised. to the sum fixed. of $3. to be paid by each immigrant who comes. I take it the committee have investigated that subject. and that they know the expenses to our Government to provide suitable regulations for immigrants coming into this country. and that they have fixed this amount with reference to that sum. as they have told us. I am not disposed to question their judgment in that respect. Neither am I disposed to question the judgment of the committee that there should be some kind of suitable regulation of immigrants coming across the border from Canada and from Mexico. Just what those suitable regulations should be I do not know. It would seem from the remarks made by the Senator from Indiana that he has not any very welldefined idea except only that we should leave it to the administrative officers to work out the details. It may be that that is all that can be done by legislation. But what I observe that gives rise to the question I want to ask is that in this bill it is provided that its provisions shall not apply to immigrants coming into the country from Canada or Mexico or Cuba who are citizens of those countries or who have lived there in good faith a residents of those countries for a period of one year prior to the time when they undertook to come into this country. Now. what I want to know is whether or not the committee have considered one point.. I suppose they have. and I should like to have their answer to the question that arises in my mind.