Speech #640174359

I know I did. but It is of tremendous importance that a halfbaked radical who has no proper idea of the effect of the mingling of the bad with the good. should be spoken of plainly. and. while the subject Is distasteful in the extreme. I have taken the first opportunity. after the facts were brought to my notice. to bring to the House of Representatives the conditions as they exist at Ellis Island. in the sincere hope and belief that once they are made public the department will see that they are rectified. Under leave to extend my remarks I annex the letter to the Attorney General. to which lie has not yet replied. the correspondence between the Department of Labor and the Comptroller of the Treasury. my letter to the Department of Labor. which remains unacknowledged and unanswered. and a letter which I wrote to the New York Globe. but which I have not yet seen in its columns: DEAR SIa: The Department of Labor at my request has furnished me with a copy of your opinion that that department could maintain a restaurant at the immigration station at Ellis Island. Your opinion does not indicate that the following facts were called to your attention : First. That In the revision of 1003 (32 Stats.. 1213) the provision of the act of 1891. on which you rely. was dropped out. The provision as to competitive letting was continued (sec. 30) and that all inconsistent acts were repealed (sec. 36). Second. That the Department of Labor In its edition of the immigration laws and rules of February 12. 1916 reports the provision of the act of 1891. on which you rely. as repealed (p. 50). Third. That by the act of October 22. 1913 (38 Stats.. 226). the entire expense of maintenance of immigrants is put upon the transportation company. Fourth. That section 8 of the act of 1891. which you quote. merely authorized the superintendent to feed aliens "during such Inspection and "also in his discretion. such as are delayed In proceeding to their destination." while the department proposed to feed. In addItIon those who had been ordered deported. to run a public restaurant for tile convenience of visitors to Ellis Island and of employees. and to conduct a counter or counters for the sale of food to immigrants in transit. Fifth. That the provisions in the statutes of. 1891. 1903. and 1907 for an "immigrant fund " have been repealed (35 Stat.. 982). that the method of competitive letting dates back to January 1. 1893 (27 Stat.. 571). If these statutes and facts had been brought to your attention. would they have changed your opinion? Very truly. yours.