Speech #630154378

NOLAN. Mr. Chairman. while it may be true that the Immigration Department has received larger approlpriations over the present fiscal year than it did during 1913. there is not any question in my inind as to the increase in the work through a number of causes. In 1912 the total number of immigrants that entered this country was 838.172. In 1913 it was 1.097.869. and in the 0 months ending December 31. 1913. ve have admitted 734.869. If that ratio keeps up during the 9 months of this current fiscal year. the total number of iimmigrants will amount to 1.409.738. or 27.1.869 more than during the year 1913. Now. that brings in additioul revenue to thig country through the Immigration Seriice. The $1.30..O40 of revenue that is brought into the country does not cut any figure In connection with this appropriation. but it seems strange to me with two hundred and seventyodd thousand immigrants coming into this country that we expend the same amnount of money during 1913 and 1914 as compared with the number :dmitted during 1912 and 1913. There is no doubt in lay mlind but what they must have an odditional force to carry on the work of the department. We have provided by law for additional stations. We have provided for new immigration stations at New Orleans. at Galveston. at Charleston. S. C.. and -t Chicago. Twenty thousamd dollars was appropriated for rent and furnishing of the Chicago station. and on account of a shortage of money in the Department of Immigration the starion at Chicago has not been manned up to date. It has been absolutely valueless. Now. there is another feature in coninection with the work of this department in the past year. The Immigration Service has been cooperatiug with the State Department and tlhe War Departumet along the Mexican border. and the officials of the Immigration Service have been of considerable value to this Government in patrolling the Mexican border. I have that statement from the Commissioner General of Immigration. that they have done considerable work there which necessitated the expenditure of a good deal of money. The man who has clharge of the Immigration Service on the border has had to go from one point to another at the command of his superiors. the railway fare has been considerable. and he has had to take his inspectors and guards along the Mexican line. and it caused the Immigration Service considerable trouble. Recently the Colnmissioner General of Immigration in his annual report h:is called attention to the fact that a good deal of money has been spent not alone on the Mexican border but on the Canadian line to keep out Hindus. Japanese. Chinese. and other aliens we have legislated against. Chinese that have been brought to this country in transit sent through California and Arizonz into Mexico have come over the line in droves. and the Immigration Service of this country has had to spend considerable money in keeping them out. Now. there is no question but that the expenses of the Immigration Service have been increased from time to time on account of the connection that service has with other services where they have had increased work. This $75.000 has not been urged over and above what they had last FEBUiARy 24. year. According to the way I read the testimony of Mr. ODonnell. they have had $25.000 surplus in 191.213. but they have had so much additional work to take care of during the years 191314. and this $95.000 is estimated by the Department of Labor as needed for the Immigration Service. I trust the amendment of the gentlenan from Illinois will pass.