Speech #610084878

Mr. Speaker. this bill is in no sense contradictory to the bill which passed the House a few days ago. coming from the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization. The other day. in discussing that bill. as it seemed to me it was my duty to discuss it. I possibly may have said something which was said more strongly than should have been said. at least what I did say seemed to have given some offense to some members of that committee. I desire to say. Mr. Speaker. that so far as the agitation of this subject is concerned. the Committee on Immigration and the Commission on Immigration are entitled to the principal credit. No one knew the extent of this traffic until the Immigration Commission. through its investigations. disclosed something in regard to that traffic. and. of course. no one knows now a great deal about the traffic. because it is a character of business which is necessarily kept as secret as possible. My own attention was attracted to the subject by the United States district attorney in Chicago. the Hon. Edwin W. Sims. working in cooperation with officials of the Immigration Commission in developing the condition of affairs in Chicago and emanating from Chicago. which. I think. no one would have believed if the information concerning it had not come from such authentic sources. The pending bill is based in the main upon the commerce clause of the Constitution treating the transportation of individuals or persons as commerce when carried by common carriers. .The latter section of the bill is based upon an international agreement for the suppression of the whiteslave traffic. and. in the opinion of the majority of our committee. may be quite effective in a way that is not possible to reach directly under the Constitution. The Supreme Court held that the present provision in the immigration law attempting to cover alien women in houses of prostitution. was unconstitutional. but it does not in any way cast discredit upon the committee which reported that bill to the House in their effort to wipe out this traffic before its enormity was so well known. I think no one will dispute that the decision of the Supreme Court in that matter was inevitable. but I believe myself that under the international treaty or agreement the courts will hold the last section of the pending bill. if it becomes a law. constitutional. There is this question. howeverand when I say it will hold the last section constitutional.