Speech #640066904

Mr. Chairman. I would really like to have an opportunity to vote to increase rather than decrease. this head tax. I can very well understand. in view of the position of the gentleman from New York . that he is in favor of any proposition that will aid in the increase of immigration to this country. In 1913 there landed in this country over 1.400.000 immigrants. The literacy test would have reduced that 300.000. leaving 1.100.000. In 1914 there landed 1.200.000. and the enforcement of this proposed measure of literacy would have reduced it to 900.000. The governor of New York. I think the last Democratic governor of the Empire State. issued a call for a conference of the -various governors of the States to provide for meeting the enormous expense to the taxpayers of New York and other States on account of caring for the foreign immigrants who are filling their asylums and other public institutions. causing a very large expenditure. I think. of $4.000.000 annually for this additional burden on the taxpayers of the State of New York alone. The great. State of Pennsylvania had an additional burden of about two and onehalf or three million dollars on account of caring for the sick. helpless. and insane dumped on the shores of America by a greedy. avaricious foreign steamship trust. So if we can increase the head tax and reduce immigration and keep down this enormous expense to the Empire and other States complained of by the late Gov. Dix. we will be doing a great and patriotic thing. When the gentleman from New York . c0mputes the amount of the present head tax collected at the various ports. there is another side of the question as to what their landing means in the way of caring for those aliens in State institutions in New York. Pennsylvania. and every other State where there is a large number of them living. either permanently or temporarily. So if we have a large amount over and above the necessary expenses of the Immigration Bureau. the gentleman from New York . instead of devising a scheme which will add additional burdens to his people in caring for this expense. should offer an amendment which will transfer some of the surplus to the State of New York. which is now appealing through a Democratic governor for aid throughout the country. and tius help New York and other States to meet this additional burden..