Speech #660273437

I want to call your attention to the fact that on January 29. 1919. practically two years ago. a bill similar to this in principle was unanimously reported. Only two members of the committee filed minority views. and they said it should be two years instead of four which the bill provided. The Committee on Immigration. with a new chairman. and the majority having control of that committee. after going over the facts. have Investigated the matter and have determined that it was a mistake that the House did not pass that bill when it was presented. They have found that immigration should be suspended. It is growing more acute all the time. and anyone who is desirous of making an investigation not only at Ellis Island but Boston. Philadelphia. and the West where aliens enter can not help coming to the conclusion that with all the readjustment conditions in this country and abroad it is in the interest of the community. to say nothing about the interests of our own country. that we should suspend immigration until we can get on our feet. The most remarkable thing I have heard in this House for 10 years. since I have been here. has just been delivered by the gentleman from Illinois. that on the 4th of March there will be a "change of Government." My God. gentlemen. is it possible that we have come to that state of affairs. I want to call your attention to this factyou talk about the administration of the law now on the statute books. You all know. the members of the committee all know. and you ought to tell it to the House. that the gentleman who has had the most to do with the administration of the immigrant law is a man who has been in the service of your party for the last 15 years. and that 90 per cent of all the men in the service are civilservice men. and 80 per cent belong to your party. It is an absolute fact and all you have to do is to go and look at the record. Why discuss and cavil over the question of the enforcement of the law when it has been brought to your attention by the Commissioner of Immigration that in every port where the immigrants enter there are not sufficient men to guard and protect the country. The Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization said that the men can come over the line at will. He had sent men back as often as six times. and there is no law on the statute books whereby it makes it a crime for a man to enter the country from Canada or Mexico. We can not get a bill to that effect.