Speech #630424029

I have great respect for the judgment of the President. and recognize the fact that he is within his rights under the Constitution when he exercises the veto power. but. so far as I am concerned. I would rather accept the judgment of 434 Members of the House and 96 Members of the Senate than to accept the judgment of any one man. The Federal Immigration Commission. appointed by Congress. spent four years studying this question both at home and abroad. and here is what that commission says about labor conditions: The investigation of the commission shows an oversupply of unskilled labor In the basic industries to an extent which indicates an oversupply of unskilled labor in the industries. of the country. as a whole. a condition which demands legislation restricting the further admission of such unskilled labor. Mr. Speaker. eight out of nine members of the commission recommended the literacy test as the most feasible single method of accomplishing the desired restriction. While this test may be regarded by some as a selective measure. the commission recommended It as a measure of restriction. the purpose. as indicated. being to relieve the harmful pressure of Immigration on an already overcrowded unskilledlabor market. That the judgment of the Congress coincided with that of the commission is shown. by the fact that in 191213 the House favored the literacy test by a vote of 178 to 52. and the Senate by a vote of 57 to 8. and on the bill now before us the vote in the House was 252 to 126. and in the Senate 50 to 7. This overwhelming vote In both the House and Senate reflects not. only the judgment of the representatives of the people. but it also reflects the judgment of the people themselves. We who occupy seats here come fresh from the people. We know the wishes of those we represent. and if we fail to carry them out we will not. and should not. represent them longer. Even in districts where the population is largely foreign born. as It is in the district represented by Judge GOLDFOOLE. of New York. the sentiment against restriction is changing. No man on the floor. has been more active against the literacy test than the gentleman from New York. He has never failed to manifest. during his entire congressional career. his Intense Interest and solicitude for foreignborn citizens. both In committee work and on the floor of the House. yet he was defeated for reelection. which Indicates that the people he represents. who are 90 per cent foreign born. are beginning to realize that some restrictive measure is necessary. This bill will not affect to but little extent. if any. the Scandinavian or the German or the Canadian or the Englishman or the Scotchman or the Irishman. as practically every adult in those nations can read and write. It might touch a few of the old folks from those countries. but we have provided a clause by which they can enter whether they themselves can read or not. so long as a single member of the family can do so.