Speech #580076234

District of Columbia. or to detail clerks or other employees from the War Department for service in the Office of the General Staff. That I have read in reply to the inquiry of the gentleman from Iowa . chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs. On page 146. in connection with the Bureau of Immigration. is the following: That the CommissIonerGeneral of Immigration. with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. shall have power to refund head -tax heretofore and leroafter collected under section 1 of the immigration act approved March 3. 190". upon presentation of evidence showing conclusively that such collection was erroneously made. I will simply state to the gentlemen that these are generally refund of head tax. are small sums of two. four. or six dollars. and when submitted under statute takes about five or six months to conclude. and under the legislation. subject to the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. the immigrant can receive the refund of his head tax in a very short time. We come to a paragraph in the bill which relates to incapacitated employees. On page 155. section 3. is made applicable to employees of the Government " incapacitated." instead of incapacitated otherwise than temporarily." We had some discussion in tie committee concerning this proposed change. and your committee. in making the change. have had but one purpose. that is. to try and reach out and see if we can not find a satisfactory conclusion to the continuance in the Departments of men permanently incapacitated. where. through the charity or good heart or whatever you may see proper to call it of the officer in administration over the unfortunate subordinate. who doubtless has been worn out in the service. this employee is retained.