Speech #590162955

Earl. the solicitor of that Department. holds that under the exemption in favor of the States. it is competent for t State to send its agent to a foreign country. it is competent for that agent. in the name of the State. to advertise the inducements and tile advaitages of his State. Hle may set out climatic conditions. lie nay set out health conditions. he may state soil conditions. lie may set forth the resources and industries of the State. lie may set forth the wage scale and the demand for labor. and he may advertise any other inducement. such as free houses and fuel. or short hours of labor. etc.. which his State may and does hold out to settlers. Ile may go further than tiat. under this ruling. he may. acting for the State. prepay the transportation charges of the immigrant to this country. ie may go even further still. He may give the immigrant an assurance which is. il my opinion. almost. if not quite in effect. a contract that he shall have employment at a fixed scale of wages aiid a guarantee that. if he is not given such employnent. or if lie shall find any of the essential representations made to hili untrue. or even if lie is dissatisfied. he shall be returned to the country from which he has come at the expense of the State. It appears from the opinion of the Solicitor of the Treasury in this case that the money to defray practically all the expenses incurred by the commissioner of immigration of South Carolina ii securing and hriUging over these immigrants was furnished by certain individuals and manufacturing corporations of that State. and that most of the immigrants upon their arrival were emlloyed by these contributors. llie admission to this country of the immigrants brought over under these circumstances is a recognition by the Secretary of Conmuerce and Labor of the right of the State under existing law to receive these contributions from individuals and corporations. and with them pay expenses of immigrants so long as it is not shown that there vas t contract giving the contributors to this fund preferential consideration in the distribution and emiployinent of such alien laborers as might be induced to come. Now. Mr. President. if the amuendments proposed by the conferees are adopted. the Secretary of Commerce and Labor will have to modify to some extent his ruling as I have stated it. but I do not think that the umodification will embarrass the States of the South in their efforts through State agency to secure needed immigration from abroad. Ii what respects. Mr.