Speech #620115381

Lauck. of Washington and Lee University. now the chief expert examiner of the Tariff Board. The results of that long and thorough investigation have been published in 42 big volumes. and Profs. Lauck and Jenks. who had so much to do with it. have written an elaborate volume. which I have here. entitled The Immigration Problem. which is nothing more than a study of the immigration problem based upon the information and the data obtained by the commission. together with their conclusions. Mr. President. as the result of that investigation inaugurated by the Government for the specific purpose of passing upon the need for and feasibility of the educational test. we have the voluminous report of and definite findings and conclusions of that commission. composed of nine distinguished men and scholars. That report. after setting forth the facts and showing the conditions of labor generally. reaches the conclusion that there is in this country at this time a large "oversupply of unskilled labor". it points out that the immigrants who are now coming here are largely unskilled laborers. causing a plethora in the labor markets. and concludes that "substantial restriction" is demanded by the conditions and that this present enormous immigration should be limited in the interest of the public welfare. After discussing the different methods that had been suggested for accomplishing this purpose. the commission declares: All these methods would be effective In one way or another In securIng restrictions In a greater or less degree. - But thatA majority of the commission favor the reading and writing test as the most feasible single method of restricting undesirable Immigration. And thatThe commission as a whole recommends restriction as demanded by economic. moral. and social considerations. Mr.