Speech #620115381

Similar amendments had frequently passed the House before. but there were in that body then those who were opposed to that amendment. just as there are now. and we understand perfectly well when the opponents of legislation find themselves in a minority and unable to defeat legislation they generally resort to the device of an investigation. So in the other House when this amendment came up it was antagonized by a proposition to substitute for it a provision for a thoroughgoing investigation. in order that we might have -full information. although at that time and for more than 10 years there had been these expressions of expert opinion and of strong public sentiment for the measure. which I have recounted. That opposition resulted in the adoption of a substitute section for the illiteracytest amendment creating the immigration commission. That commission was created specifically. there. fore. and definitely for the purpose of investigating this very proposition. with a view to advising Congress as to whether It would be wise topass.such a provision as was then and is now proposed. That commission was composed of nine membersthree Members of the Senate. three Members of the House. and of three civilians appointed by the President. That commission made the most exhaustive and thoroughgoing investigation of the whole immigration question that has ever been made in the history of our Government of any single legislative oradministrative subject. Its investigations were begun .in Europe. The members went to the very homes of those whom it is sought to exclude from our shores as undesirable. They studied them from their childhood up to the time when they arrived at manhood. investigated the means resorted to for inducing them to emigrate. ascertained the motives which lead them to come here. and looked into their qualifications for citizenship both in their native land and in this country. Then they followed them aposs the Atlantic Ocean. placing agents and experts in the steerage of the great steamships. in order that they might study the immigrants at close range. and when they arrived in this country they and their experts followed them into the slums of the great cities. Where many of them go ancT remain to become hotbeds. sometimes. of anarchy and disorder. They followed them into the factories. into the coal mines. and into the railroad camps.