President. I am obliged to the Senator from Massachusetts. I shall desire to put Into the RECORD a few observations of my own. and a few expressions of opinion by others. touching the wisdom of striking out the amendment permitting Belgians to come to the United States regardless of the literacy test. Before I do that. however. and merely in passing. I wish to take exception to the reason assigned for .striking out the House language of section 11. which provides that the immigration authorities may place Inspectors on board vessels coming to this country. and ascertain in that way the character of the people who are coming and also the kind of treatment they receive from the management of the vessels. together with any other facts that may be of interest. The reason assigned for striking out the House language and for the submission by the conferees of the Senate substitute is that we have no authority to place our agents upon these vessels. Mr. President. that matter was completely thrashed out in the debate. and the chairman of the committee finally admitted that while the owner of a foreign vessel could exclude from that vessel our agents if he saw fit. at the same time this Government could prohibit the landing of any vessel which refused to conform to our immigration regulations. We have as great a right to place our agents on board vessels to inspect an immigrant who is crossing the ocean as we have. to place agents in foreign ports to inspect an immigrant who is about to cross the ocean. We have a greater right. because the vessel in making its voyage is obliged to land In our port. whereas we have no such control over foreign harbors. It would be much franker and much more commendable If the committee would simply say that we have -receded because certain foreign nations. undoubtedly instigated by certain foreign shipowners. have seen fit to protest against the exercise on the part of this Government of a power which it clearly possesses.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrant literacy test