Speech #600006316

Commenting upon the remarks of the gentleman from Iowa as to whether this port will be less or greater in the future. I would say that we will have larger commercial facilities. and therefore the port would be greater in the future in every respectimmigration and traffic. The competition of the steamship companies will go on and the immigration to this country will go on. It is our bounden duty. in view of the report of the Commissioner of Immigration. in view of the investigation of your special commission. in view of the examination that has been made as to the facilities of that port. as long as your immigration laws exist. to treat this body of immigrants decently and give them healthy surroundings. I have no doubt that the gentleman in charge of this bill will accept any tuiendment that qualifies its limitation. any amendment that will make assured the success of the proposed legislation. and in view of the large sums of money that are required to purchase real estate along the line of a watei front. and especially in the builtup sections of the city. the $250.000 the bill carries is reasonable and necessary. The port atPhiladelphia is at times the second and at times the third largest port 6f entry in the country. through which are received importations to a city that is the third largest in population. and I can not understand why there should be any question as to whether that city with its great industries and which can in itself absorb a vast body of the immigrantswhy there would be objection to the expenditure of so reasonable a sum as $250.000 for that which is absolutely needed. especially because of the unfitness of the present immigration station.