Speech #620063575

I realize the misfortune of having to bring up a matter of this importance at the close of the days session when all Members desire to absent themselves to their homes. but there is a serious reason for presenting this amendment at this time. and it may be ncmiessary that I ask for a few minutes extension in order to state the situation which provokes the amendment. In February. 1908. this House was good enough to pass a bill providing an appropriation for $250.000 for the construction ot an inimnigrant station at the city of Philadelphia. We had been receiving a larger number of immigrants than formerly. Muih of the great influx at the city of New York bad been gradunaly coning over to the city of Philadelphia. The general disposition of the Government officials was to distribute immigration. and those who were corning to our city in larger numbers than formerly were thrown out upon the wharves and into a ramshackle building. and were there detained under 12onditions to which human beings ought not to be subjected. The House was then fully informed as to the very great stress of the situatiou. The demand was so urgent and the Department of Commerce and Labor so pressed the matter that the bill was finally passed because of the actual necessity that existed. Since the passage of the act of 1908. a little over three years ago. the Department of Commerce and Labor found it necessary to increase the plans for receiving the incoming immigrants. The steamship traffic had increased and so had the number of immigrants who came to the port. The department brought this increase to the attention of the old Appropriations Committee and asked that an additional $105.000 be provided to complete the station for which a site had been selected. as a suitable permanent institution to take care of the human beings who conie here and were huddled together in the manner indicated. I have a letter written a short time ago by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. and bearing upon the conditions at Philadelphia. which I desire the House to hear: DEPARTMENT Or CoMiEr!ICE AND LABOR.