Speech #590091274

It is because of the necessarily unsatisfactory character and the incompleteness of our own inspection abroad that it is necessary to induce steamship companies to assist in making the examination effective. The fine of $100 is not at all unreasonable. considering the fact that it is imposed only in such cases as might have been detected by a careful examination before embarkation. and the results have fully proven its wisdom. As the CommissionerGeneral has said in speaking of the excluded classes. " It is right to debar those who are affected. but it is wrong to permit them to start." and the steamship companies who are deriving this great Income from the steerage passengers should be willing. of course. to cooperate with the United States in excluding the defective classes.