President. there is no one more heartily in sympathy with the whole spirit and purpose of the contractlabor law than myself. and I do not desire to subject myself in any degree to the imputation. which seems to be suggested. of hostility to the spirit of that act by calling attention to this particular amendment proposed by the committee. I. do not think we have had very much enlightenment concerning this matter. It means something. it was undoubtedly aimed at some particular class of immigrants. What was the defect in the old law? What particular class of immigrants was allowed to come into this country that ought to have been excluded? We all know. as a matter of course. the construction that was given to the old act by the Supreme Court of the United States. A man employed to come into this country as a preacher of the gospel was held not to fall within the condemnation of the act. Let us understand clearly If it is intended now to extend the operation of the act beyond the construction given to it by the Supreme Court of the United States. so that it shall no longer be possible to introduce teachers of that character. I observe that the exceptions are very wide. but I still am eager to be told by some Senator of the particular class of immigrants at which this provision is aimedwhat particular class will be left? The Senator from Mississippi very pertinently suggests that a great engineer. who had distinguished himself in the conduct of great public works in one of the countries of Europe. might not come here. I recall now that the builder of the Assuan Dam upon the Nile did us the honor to pay a visit to this country only a year ago. and the hope was expressed in many quarters here that we might induce him to stay in this country. and that this Government of ours or some private individual might enter into a contract with him by which he should be assured employment in this country in the development of our great resources in one way or another.
Keywords matched
immigrants