Speech #620285412

I say without fear of successful contradiction that everything that was good in the Dillingham bill was eliminated. and everything that could possibly be inserted to make it harsher and more stringent was injected by the conferees. The limited time at my disposal does not permit of my going into details and pointing out to the Members of this House the various matters that have beeli inserted in the bill. but I wish to call attention to some of the harshest provisions now incorporated in this bill. On the very first page we find that should this bill pass it will apply not only to immigrants but to all aliens. it matters not whether they have resided here for 5. 10. 15. or 20 years. Unless they become citizens. and our strict naturalization laws practically preclude this in the majority of instances. they will be subjected to all of the harsh provisions of this bill if. perchance. they go abroad to visit their aged father and mother or other relatives or to adjust any estate they may have in the old country. The deportation clause in the bill provides that anyone who may be found guilty of a crime punishable by imprisonment for one or nore years will be deported after the expiration of his sentence. though he has paid the penalty for his indiscretions. and notwithstanding the fact that he may have resided here for any number of years and may have an American wife and children born in this Country. The bill increases the head tax from $4 to $5. and this applies not only to immigrants but to all aliens. Then. on the fourth page of this bill. we find the provision that "citizens or subjects of any country that issues penal certificates or certificates of character who do not produce to the immigration officials such a certificate shall be debarred." What is the significance of this. gentlemen? It means that practically onehalf of the immigrants from such European countries as Russia. Austria. and other countries that issue such certificates will be prevented from entering this country. due to the fact that they will be unable to secure these certificates. for practically that number leave their homes surreptitiously for fear that if they make known their plans they will be prevented from embarking. I ask you. gentlemen. is it just that we should demand from these people a certificate of character when they already have so many obstacles interposed to prevent their leaving their native land? Is it fair that we should give to these Governments the power to say who can and who can not enigrate to America? As to the educational test. the House managers did attempt to make some exceptions in the case of the wives. pareiits. and children of the immigrants. so that they would be exempted from this test. but further on in the bill this exemption is nullified by a provision which directs that a fine shall be imposed on anyone and on any steamship company that brings into this country anyone who does not know how to read. Are you gentlemen aware that this provision would debar practically all of the women who emigrate from Russia. Roumania. Galacia.