Speech #590098768

I do not think that the committee understands that the amendment of the gentleman from Nebraska provides no reading and writing test at all. The amendment of the gentleman from Illinois provides that the reading andwriting and speaking test may be made in any language. I have been somewhat astonished to find members of the committee. when we had not had any committee meeting on the question. advocating the acceptance of the amendment of the gentleman froth Nebraska. for if that is accepted. gentlemen. it means that we cut out entirely the qualification which says that a man must read and write before he can be naturalized. If. on the other hand. we accept the amendment of the. gentleXL--487 man from Illinois. we allow the test to be made in any language. and therefore. although we do not require it in English. if we accept his amendment. we require that a man must be educated and must read and write in some language. That is exactly the provision which is in the immigration bill which will be before you in a few days. I have no objection to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois . but I have a decided objection to the amendment of the gentleman from Nebraska . I shall not argue the general principles which control this matter. Every man in this House has considered over and over again whether or not a man ought to be able to read and write before he is naturalized. You can all decide that for yourselves. You have all thought of it repeatedly. This is the law in my own State. In Massachusetts a man must read and write before he can vote and before he can be naturalized. Every man here has ideas on this subject. but I want the House to understand that the Committee on Immigration does not accept the amendment of the gentleman from Nebraska. nor any other amendment. If they put in the amendmeat of the gentleman from Nebraska . they vote to cut out all requirements that a man must read and write. if they vote for the amendment of the gentleman from Illinois. they do not cut out the reading and writing requirement. but they say that he must read and write in some language.