Speech #590183042

The Members of Congress are to serve without compensation and the members appointed by the President are to receive a compensation to be fixed by him. The commission has very wide powers. is not limited in its expenditures. and is required to report to Congress. The intention is to have this commission report authoritatively on existing facts hearing on immigration. Until now legislation on this subject has been embarrassed by the absence of the information which such a commission can obtain. The concluding portion of the section also empowers the President to call an international conference or to send special commissioners to any foreign country for the purpose of regulating by international agreement the immigration problems. Section 40 provides for the creation of a division of information in the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization. One of the evils of the present system is that there is not a proper distribution of immigration. and it is hoped that this division will assist in an equitable distribution. Section 41 exempts accredited officials of foreign governments and their suites. families. and guests from the provisions of the act. Section 42 is the airspace provision. which increases the amount of air space on each vessel by about 20 per cent. After this section takes effect on January 1. 1909. the requirements of the United States laws as to a proper air space for immigrants will be more liberal than those of any other country. Practically this is also a restrictive measure. as of course fewer can be brought on each ship. and. the number of ships being somewhat limited. fewer immigrants will come. The changes in this section are as follows: Miliniua cubic feet. 7 feet betwcen decks. Cubic Present law : feet. Main deck. or first deck below -----------------------------100 Second deck below ---------------------.. --------- --------- 120 Proposed amendment: Main deck. or first deck below ---------------------------- 126 Second deck below -------------------------------- 140 Less than 7 feet betwcen decks. Second deck below - 120 Proposed amendment. second deck below (about) ----------------180 Sections 43 and 44 are purely formal sections repealing all other immigration laws and laws conflicting with this new law and providing when the various parts of the law shall take effect. The bill as amended was ordered to be read a third time. was read the third time. and passed. On motion of Mr.