Speech #640151598

It will be more seriously handicapped this year than it was last. The same men will not remain in the service if they know in advance that they can not be employed for the entire 12 months in a year. But immigrants will arrive probably in larger numbers than in 1915. There is another point that has not been discussed here. At Seattle a large number of immigrants are arriving at the present time. The department has not sufficient facilities with which to handle the immigration cases at that point. Arrangements must be made to be able to treat immigrants with care for their comfort. so that their first impresslon of the United States must be favorable and hasten the day when they will apply for citizenship. If this reduction. is to be continued. it means that the immigrants arriving at Seattle will not be exatined as they should be. nor will we be able to provide proper housing facilities or hospital treatment for them if required. .Mr..Chairman. realizing the vast amount of money that we. have appropriated and that we will appropriate this year. I would not urge the expenditure of an additional sum of $200.000 at the present time for this purpose except for the fact that I think it is just as important. just as necessary. just as urgent to keep out of this country those who are prohibited from coming in under our present laws and to provide proper medical and surgical treatment and facilities for immigrants as it Is to appropriate money for other necessary improvements in other branches of the Government. To keep out of this country those who would smuggle themselves into this country is doing a double service. It is doing a service to each locality. and it is doing a service to the States upon which the burdens will fall. because such people usually commit crimes. also because the United States Government does not take care of the sick or insane who have recently arrived. although we have a surplus derived from immigrants of over $10.000.000 and only expenls a paltry sumn toward helping to Americanize the imuigrants who come to this country. There is no necessity to ecotiomize at the expense of the immigrant. Our people do not ask it. For that reason I ask that the aimenidment be adopted.