Speech #590091316

Under the existing law all idiots are debarred. but the administration of the law has shown it is necessary to add ".imbeciles. feebleminded persons." and those words have been inserted. There are those who ought not to be admitted. but who can not be certified as being idiots. but they are so far inclined that way that they ought. in the discretion of the examining officers. to be kept out. The experience of the Immigration officers at Ellis Island has been that while polygamists are debarred under the present law. they were compelled to admit persons who could not be proved to be polygamists. but who freely admitted their beli6f in the practice of polygamy. This amendment was added at the suggestion of those officers. Again. the present law provides for the exclusion of prostitutes. and at the suggestion of the administration officers we have added "or women or girls coming into the United States for the purpose of prostitution or for any other immoral purpose." That was suggested.