Speech #610081244

Speaker. in the brief time granted I wish to make public acknowledgment to the committee for bringing forward this valuable and needed legislation. My only criticism of the bill is that it does not go far enough. and I entertain the hope that before its final consideration the distinguished gentleman in charge of the same will accept certain amendments which I believe to be of vital interest to the American people. This bill carries with it the highest evidence of the present inefficiency of the enforcement of the immigration laws of our country. We have had upon our statute books for many years a provision excluding the criminal classes. and yet we all know that our country is being made the dumping ground for the criminafs of all the European countries. We have our doors wide open for every race on the face of the earth except the. Chinese. This ceaseless and constant flood of immigration. good. indifferent. and worthless. with an annual average of more than a million people from the four corners of the earth. in my judgment means more to the peace and civilization of our country than any question upon which this body can possibly legislate. This bill ought to carry a provision against that Infamous band known as the "Black Hand." which has its American home in the city of New York and branches in many of our ofher cities. If we are to exclude undesirables. let us include this class of notorious blackmailers and assassins. who ought never to be permitted to land upon our shores. We ought to extend the exclusion and embrace the Asiatics. those who in time will be pouring into our Western States from across the Pacific Ocean. We ought to exclude the ignorant. for the number of illiterates last year had increased until the percentage reached 29 per cent of the total number that were admitted. We ought to carry In this bill an appropriation that will enable the Immigration Bureau to thoroughly investigate the class. condition. and character of the people who are seeking to become citizens. before they are passed by our agents on the other side. No man should be permitted to land in America as a future citizen who Is unable to furnish from the local authorities of his home town. village. or district a certificate of good moral character. a record for industry and obedience to law. Let us welcome the honest. the industrious. the worthy. and the deserving. but keep out for all time the anarchists. the bomb throwers. the Black Hands. and the most despised of all. those engaged in the infamous whiteslave traffic. Mr. Speaker. I have had some personal experience. extending over a year. observing the loading of immigrants for America. witnessing eight times every month the method of the embarkation and examination of foreigners bound for America. and I say upon my responsibility as a Member of this House that investigations on the other side are a fraud and an Imposition upon the American people and an evasion of our laws. It will continue as long as steamship companies are interested in improving. extending. and increasing their business. with great armies of field agents going over all of Europe with "finetooth combs" gathering up immigrants from all lands and of all shades of characters and conditions and permitted to land them upon our shores. I hope this measure will receive practically a unanimous vote. and that it may be strengthened and enlarged in the interests of the future welfare and happiness of the American people.