Speech #600089292

Mr. Speaker. I warn gentlemen who would like to see these airspace conditions changed and bettered in the interest of immigrants who come over. and I am one of them. that whenever we vote for the passage of this bill it will go into conference. and instead of coming back the bill this House believes it is passing. one that will ameliorate the conditions. they are going to receive. in my judgment. just what time steamship companies want. and if you are prepared to vote for this bill you do so in the face of Mr. Watchorns statement that section 42 when it goes into effect will ameliorate the conditions of the unfortunate immigrant. As you all know. I am in favor of cutting off much of the undesirable immigration. but as long as they are admitted. in the name of God and of humanity let us try to stop the steamships from murdering them. as Watchorns report shows they are doing. We have. many of us. seen the crowded conditions of these people and know something about it. The commissioner of immigration himself adinits that if the Senate bill passes it will reduce the air space to half what it is under section 42. Now. this is a better bill. as the committee bas amended it. than the law that existed before. but the law that goes into effect in January. 1909. increases the air space. and I believe that we ought not to tamper with that until it is tried. It is a dangerous experiment for us to undertake to do any such thing as that. and you who vote for this bill. if it comes back as the Senate desires it should. will be responsible for the condition that is forced upon people of this country going to Europe in the steerage and upon the immigrants corning to this. country. The only pretext made by the commissioner of immigration for it was to have us conform to the British trade law passed after ours. They. can meet at any time and- in a day change their law to conform to ours. Then why not.let them come to us. instead of us going to them?