Speech #630136294

Mr. Chairman. the purpose of that amendment is twofold. The earlier part of section 11 already contains a most admirable provision that inspectors and matrons shall be carried on these immigrantbearing vessels. it provides further that these inspectors and matrons shall. during the voyage. observe the immigrants and report concerning their admissibility when they get to a port of the United States. and also that they shall observe and report any violations of the "passenger act." The amendment which I am offering seeks to make these officials still more useful. so that they may also be enabled to examine into the general conditions prevailing upon the vessel to which they are assigned. and to make suggestions for the comfort and wellbeing of all immigrants who may thereafter travel on such vessel. It is not always necessary that a thing should be violative of law in order to be objectionable. and I am trying to make these officials useful in a wider sphere than the law now contemplates by allowing them to make suggestions as to what modification of existing conditions or what change of equipment will tend to the added comfort and wellbeing. physical and moral. of future immigrants coming to this country by sea. Furthermore. and in the second place. I am advised by one of the most eminent penologists of Massachusetts that there is a good deal of immorality resulting from the overcrowded and underequipped condition of the decks of immigrant vessels. The immigrants of both sexes are herded together on deck in every sort of weather. forced either to stand or to lie down on the deck. with no place whatever where they may sit and rest. My amendment provides that deck seating accommodations may. in the discretion of the Secretary of Labor. be required of any vessel. so that these people may have that measure of comfort and of decency in connection with their ocean voyage. It seems to me that in both these respects the amendment is a meritorious one. and I ask that the committee consider not in a cursory way. but carefully. whether there is not real worth in the proposition.