Speech #630376474

If the Senator from Missouri will allow me. I think it will be conceded by every Member of this body that the administrative features of the billand this is one of themmust be lodged in some competent body. I presume our immigration officers charged with this duty are selected with due regard for their fitness to enter into the merits of any particular case. While there may be from time to time some hardship or perhaps some injustice by virtue of the adminIstration of the law. nevertheless it seems to me to be practically impossible so to define the law as to make it perfect In its letter without leaving something to the judgment of those charged with its administration. The reason why we wrote in this clause was that it seemed absurd to think that anybody seeking to come to the United States would admit that he had been guilty of that which under the terms of our law would unfit him to enter. and we put in this clause. "legally charged." so that in case he came duly to trial and was cleared of the charge he could then enter. and if convicted. by the very text of the law of 1907. he could not enter.