Speech #590120213

Mr. Chairman. it is impossible under the fiveminute rule to discuss the general problem of immigration. It should be more extensively discussed. because it is a problem that. in my judgment. is more talked about and less understood than any other question before the American people. but under the rule I shall have to confine myself to a discussion of the two special features of the pending bill ivhich seem to me most objectionable. namely. the increase of the head tax and the illiteracy or educational test. Before doing so. however. I wish to remind the House of the fact that this is the first time in our history that a serious restriction of immigration is attempted in times of prosperity. Heretofore. in prosperous times. these waves of humanity were usually permitted to come to our shores unmolested. and only in periods of industrial depression. when our own labor was unemployed. was every shipload of newcomers regarded. more or less. in the light of a hostile invasion. The hard times immediately preceding and during Buchanans Administration gave rise to the socalled " Knownothing" agitation. and the depression under Grover Cleveland again turned the public mind against what were called the evils of immigration. But at a time such as this. when American labor is fully employed. when the great West and the South are loudly clamoring for manual laborers. the cry against immigration has never before been raised. The inference is. Mr. Chairman. that the present agitation is not based on natural causes. but is an artificial one. especially in view of the fact that the stream of immigration usually regulates itselfthat its tide rises and falls with the tide of our prosperity and industrial conditions. But be that as it may. it is certain that the American people. while opposed to undesirable immigration. are still largely in favor of permitting realty desirable immigrants to cast their lots with us. The question is. How and where shall the line be drawn? In effect. this bill as it now reads stigmatizes the man who is unable to read or who can not put up-$5 for himself. and each head of his family as an undesirable immigrant. and excludes him. He may be strong and healthy. of sound mind and good character. he mtoy come to better his condition. as nearly all of them do. he may be willing to help build our railroads. dig our canals. harvest our crops. and work in our mines and to make this country his home and identify himselr with our institutions. it makes no difference. under this bill he is barred if he can not show a certain amount of money and if he has not had the opportunity to learn how to read In the English or his own language. The head tax at present is $2. This is to create the fund out of which the administration of the immigration laws Is paid. but that fund. I understand. has a surplus at the present time of over $2.000.000. consequently the increase from $2 to $5 can not be justified on financial grounds. Hence. the advocates of this increased tax appear to believe that the difference between $2 and $5 converts an undesirable to a desirable immigrant.