Speech #660161745

Speaker. when I first came to Congress I was placed upon theoCommittee on Imigration. of which the late Judge JOHN L. BURNETT was chairman. and during my service on that committee became intimately acquainted with his fine qualities as a man and his marked abilities- as a statesman. The passage of the Burnett immigration bill was the crowning achievement of his legislative career. and tile most conspicuous accomplishment of his long public service. I The history of that legislation is somewhat unique in the proceedings of Congress. Beginning with the veto by President Cleveland in 1896. for more than 20 years one of the storm centers of congressional debate and action. in party platforms. and in national campaigns was the literacy test as applied to immigration. the principle of which was to make our immigration selective and as finally adopted in the Burnett bill. The final passage over the veto of the President. in 1916. of thi? bill. which had received the approval and indorsement of both .branches of Congress on six separate occasions in a period of 20 years. and halted by the vetoes of three Presidents of the United States. is a striking instance of the triumph of public opinion in America as reflected in the Congress. The brilliant and effective work of JOHN L. BURNETT in connection with this measure won for him a fame that was national and a reputation that was international. During the consideration of this and other problems assigned to us the committee wds often astoflished at the complete grasp of every phase of the immigration question shown by Chairman BURNETT. and the scope and exactness of his information relating thereto. In my opinion the final passage of this bill over the last presidential veto was due largely to his fine leadership and superb ability. ludge BURNETT was a man who attracted in close attachment and esteem those who knew him intimately. He was always frank. open. and aboveboard about everything. courteous and kindly in speech and -action.