Speech #620137359

Oh. no. I do not think so at all. The application is made directly to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. and the immigration laws are administered by that department with great rigor against contract labor. I do not think so at all. There can be little question that a large part of the present immigration of unskilled laborers is induced to come to this country by more or less direct promises of employmenta matter to which I have already referredbut these cases are exceedingly difficult of detection. and the bill proposes to make the law in this regard of greater practical value. It is certain also that a considerable part of this class of immigrants are solicited to come by agents and subagents of steamship companies working in various parts of Europe. Such solicitation is forbidden by the United States immigration law. but it appears that the enforcement of the law as it now stands is impracticable. The bill proposes a radical change in legislation in this regard by making possible the imposition of an administrative fine for violations of this provision. and if that is not effective. the Secretary of Commerce and Labor is empowered to deny to persistently offending steamship companies the privilege of landing passengers at United States ports. It is believed that with these provisions a better observance of this important requirement of the law can be secured. In authorizing the deportation of aliens who commit crimes Involving moral turpitude within five years after their entry into the United States. and also the deportation of aliens who become public charges. from any cause. within three years after landing. the bill again follows recommendations of the Immigration Commission. An alien who has been convicted of or who admits having committed a crime prior to his admission to the United States is deportable under the present law. but he may follow a career of crime from the very day of his admission without danger of deportation. The limit within which the commission of a crime may be a cause for deportation is fixed at five years. the purpose being to avoid returning to a foreign country a person whose environment or circumstances in the United States have made him a criminal. This danger is obviated within the period specified by the proviso that an alien convicted of a crime shall not be deported if the court Imposing sentence recommends otherwise. The present immigration law provides for the deportation within three years after landing of aliens whobecome public charges from causes existing prior to such landing. This bill provides for the deportation of aliens who become public charges from any cause within three years after landing. in the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. and it also provides for the removal at the expense of the United States of aliens who fall into distress or want and who desire to return to their native country. The purpose of this provision is the removal from the country of unfortunate persons whose immigration has resulted in failure. Under our present system of control the Governments concern in the welfare of immigrants practically ceases when they leave the immigration station or board a train for the interior. Because of this. many immigrants fall into the hands of spoilers before they finally reach their friends. In several of the larger cities. which are distributing points for large numbers of immigrants. local societies have been formed for the purpose of aiding and protecting such immigrants. and some of these societies are doing a splendid work in this field. The present immigration law provides that means shall be adopted to protect aliens migrating to the United States from fraud and loss. This protection is now given at ports of arrival. but the same protection might well be exended to the immigrant during his journey to distributing points in the interior and after his arrival there until he proceeds to his final destination. With this purpose in view there is incorporated in this bill a provision authorizing the Secretary of Commerce and Labor to establish immigrant stations at such interior points as may be necessary. and also to detail officers to accompany immigranits from ports of landing to such stations. Moreover it is provided that such interior station be utilized to aid in the beneficial distribution of admitted aliens. which is authorized by the law of 1907 and retained in the bill. �Mr. President. I think I have gone over this question as fully as I care to do today. The study of this question has been a very great pleasure to me. and I think I see very clearly that the recommendation of the commission that immigration be restricted along the lines I have indicated is a wise one. and I most surely hope that the clause relating to the reading and writing test may be retained in the bill and that the bill may become a law.