In protest against that kind of treatment this Goverlnent passed a law tending to an anielioration of these evil and distressing conditions. This bill as it came from the House provided the means by which this Government could ascertain whether or not.these poor people Were being granted the protection accorded to them by the letter of the law. It gave to our immigration authorities the right to place on board these vessels their agents. and to place on boar(l these vessels not only ordinary immigration authorities. but men skilled in the knowledge of disease. of sanitation. and of all those questions which affect the health and welfare of the emigrant. and it gave to the medical officials the right to challenge the attention of the commander of the vessel to the conditions. to demand a compliance with the statutes. and inflict a proper punishment of a thousand dollars a day for each day that the laws were defied after notice had been given. If you pass that sort of a law. there will be no longer any doubt as to the treatment accorded these poor human beings. but the committee strikes it outthe only provision I have seen In this bill that is of a humanitarian character. the only provision I have discovered in this bill that proposes to extend the protecting arm of the Government over poor. helpless humah beings. the only provision that Will compel obedience by steamship companies to the demands of our law. Mr.
Keywords matched
immigration emigrant