Speech #590161870

Mr. President. at the time when I yielded the floor on yesterday I was calling the attention of the Senate to the ruling of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor on the importation of some immigrants by an agent or officer of the State of South Carolina. I will not at this time. at least. occupy the attention of the Senate in rereading it. I simply desire. in order that I may resume intelligently. to briefly restate the facts of the case. That order grew out of the importation of immigrants by an agent or officer of the State of South Carolina. that officer or agent not having been furnished with the money necessary to carry on the work by the State. but the money having been supplied by certain associations of the State interested in the procurement of additional labor. not for any particular enterprise. but generally. which was greatly needed in the industries of the State. The point was raised that this agent of the State had violated the law against soliciting or bringing in of immigrants. in that he had not simply represented the State. but that he had represented individuals. not in the way of making any contract for labor. but in the way of solicitationbecause there had been no contract made for laborin the way of solicitation. and in the payment of the money necessary for the passage of those immigrants. The Secretary of Commerce and Labor ruled that that ivas not a violation of the law. This brings us to the crucial point.