Mr. Chairman. I would not take up the time now to address this House upon the proposition contained in the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York . to strike the literacy test from this bill. were it not for some remarks made by the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Immigration. the gentleman from Alabama . which I quote from the RECORD as follows: But. Mr. Chairman. this bill strikes at those who come here Tor the purpose of beating down the price of labor. who come here for the pur. pose of establishing low standards of morals and living. and to drive out those who desire to make an honest living and maintain their families in decency and selfrespect. I deny that that statement is accurate or true. I know that the great immigration that has come to this country did not come for this purpose at all. The immigrants come for reasons that have already been expressed on this floor during the seven hours of debate. they come here because they are driven from their homes for religious and political reasons. they come here for the purpose of bettering their condition. They do not come here for the purpose of lowering the standard of living or for the purpose of reducing the wages of the American workingmen. Mr. Chairman. I represent in part the greatest immigration city in the civilized world. There are more immigrants in New York City and in New York State todayand I think I am correct in the statementthan there are in the whole of the United States outside. The standard of civilization in New York is as high as the standard. of civilization in any city in this country. Alad the people who come from abroad and are employed in the workshops and the mercantile establishments of my city are as happy and as prosperous a people as you can find anywhere within the borderlands of this country.
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immigrants Immigration immigration literacy test