Speech #620150399

That any admissible alien or any alien heretofore or hereafter legally admitted or any citizen of the United States may bring in or send for his father or grandfather over 55 years of age. his wife. his mother. his grandmother. or his unmarried or widowed daughter. if otherwise admissible. whether such relative can read or not. and such relatives shall be permitted to land. SEC. 2. That for the purpose of ascertaining whether aliens can read or not the immigrant inspectors shall be furnished with copies of uniform slips. prepared under the direction of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. each containing not less than 30 nor more than 40 words In ordinary use. printed In plain type in the various languages and dialects of immigrants. Each alien may designate the particular language or dialect in which he desires the examination to be made. and shall be required to read the words printed on the sill) in such lanpunge or dialect. No two aliens coming in the same vessel or other vehicle of carriage or transportation shall be tested with the same slip. SEc. 3. That the following classes of persons shall be exempt from .the operation of this act. to wit: (a) All aliens who shall prove to the satisfaction of the proper immigration officer or to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor that they are seeking admission to the United States solely for the purpose of escaping from religions persecution. (b) all aliens In transit through the*United States. (ci allaliens who have been lawfully admitted to the United States and who later shall go in transit from one part of the United States to another through foreign contiguous territory. Mr. Chairman. it might be interesting to note the history of legislation on this subject. From the year 1819 to 1882 immigration was practically unfiltered and there were very few. if any. restrictive laws against it. There was good reason for this. The class of immigrants coming to us as late as 1880 came in the main from England. Scotland. Ireland.