Speech #600067437

Chairman. that the committee may more fully comprehend the urgent need of this station at Boston. let me hurriedly outline the salient reasons for its passage. In the first place it will not necessitate thp expenditure of a single dollar from the General Treasury. A fund amounting to nearly $4.000.000. -which is mainly derived from the head tax. is now available. This money is held for the purpose of operating the laws pertaining to immigration. It is a separate and distinct fund which is raised by -the means I have stated and for just such purposes as my amendment proposes. Boston is the second largest port of entry in the United States. and for immigrants it is the same. In 1907 -over 70.000 were landed there. and over 95.000 persons passed the inspection of the immigration officials in that -city. The present building is leased at a yearly rental of $3.748. It is a wooden structure. illy adapted to the purposes for which it is used. insanitary. and manifestly inadequate. It is a phyiscal impossibility to enlarge it. for every available inch of ground is now occupied. In 1.907 there -was collected at Boston in this immigration service $162.358. There are times when between 150 and 200 human souls are:detained there. and the accommodations afforded are such at times as would draw down the indignant protest of any person of ordinary human instincts if applied to the caring -for cattle. not ito speak of the housing of human beings. President Roosevelts special investigator. James B. Reynolds. had this to say of -the place .some -eighteen months ago after an inspection of it: Your detention pen .(Boston Immigration station) Is an absolute fire trap. though it lodges from 100 to 200 people nightly in very crowded and cramped quarters. The sleeping accommodations are berths. one above another. such as are provided on board steamers. and such as may be excused there because of the limited space. hut such as .are provided on land only by the second :and third rate lodging houses of the city. We are sometimes apt to criticise immigrants who reach our shores for their lack of cleanplness. though we are .in no position to do so. seeing the accommodations we furnish them. Now. Mr. Chairman. the policy of the House has been defined upon this subject. Philadelphia. which -handled but 30.501 immigrants last year as against Bostons 70.000. was voted by the present Congress a .$250.000 building. and consistency would prompt similar action upon the plea of Boston. Now. so uncertain and chaotic are legislative conditions here that the House will. in all probability. adjourn without considering this matter. and for that reason I trust that .action may be had upon it at this lhe. Now.