Speech #660246762

Speaker. the proposition advanced by the gentleman from Massachusetts would practically reverse all of the precedents which have been followed in the House up to date. The precedents which he has cited up to now have all been cases where the entire bill after the enacting clause has been stricken out. He can not cite a single case where it was ever contended before today that an amendment is in order. as in this. case. which embodies new legislation. which employs a new method for immigrants coming to this country. which gives power to the consul which is now vested in the United States immigration authorities at our ports. and which in the House would go to an entirely different committee. namely. the Committee on Naturalization and Immigriation. but which also involves legislation which has not been considered in this House and which has never been brought up or discussed here and giving the most extraordinary power to consuls abroad. If the entire bill had been stricken out after the enacting clause. then the argument from the gentleman from Massachusetts might hold water. What Is attempted here is this: The Senate passed an amendment. No. 15. in which it provided that $9 and $1 shall be charged for visding a passport or for the issuance of one. The gentleman from Massachusetts must have forgotten that when an immigrant arrives in America he pays $8. and that each and every alien entering the United States does so. If you add the $10. that will make $18 for each and every immigrant coming into the United States. That is the practical effect. They are also endeavoring to make the consul the supreme authority over there to determine the question whether the immigrant is absolutely fit to come to the United States. and under our law the authority to determine that question is lodged with the immigration authorities with the right to appeal to the Secretary of Labor. But they do not Stop there. They try to repeal the provision which allows the Secretary of State at the present time to issue passports to a declarant. something that has been followed during the entire war period. Many men -who are in this country. although not fully naturalized.were in the service of the Government and who could not obtain their final papers were granted these passports. By section 8 they try to wipe thai out. These conferees have done everything which conferees have never been permitted to do before by this House. and unless the precedents are going to be smashed it seems to me the point of order should be sustained. because it establishes a dangerous precedent by which it is possible to say that conferees in an amendment have a wider authority than they would have had in the event the entire legislation was thrown out and a new bill gotten together. as will perhaps .be the case in the Army reorganization bill.