Speech #660274403

Mr. Chairman. I am one of those who have always believed we were too lax in admitting the foreign born to the United States. I will not go into the distinctions I have always made in the classes I was willing to bring in. but we have reached that point that a great many men predicted during the last 20 years where everybody admits that there should be what the chairman this morning called at least a " stop gap " for a -while. so we can take stock and clean house and find out where we are. I really hailed with delight the press reports on this bill. because I thought really we were going to restrict immigration for two years. As one who carefully examines the provisions of every act he has to vote upon and as a lawyer trying to understand that upon which I am called to vote. I have found my enthusiasm for this measure waning. I have found that I am forced with deep regret to the conviction that this bill at best is but a " French gesture." Mly candid opinion as a lawyer is that this bill will not exclude one single immigrant that the present existing law does not exclude. If I vote for it it will be because of the supposed sentiment that it does restrict immigration at least for a while. I shall have to be satisfied. though. that the w.ord " suspension" used here in section 7 does not leave us at the end of the 14 months period worse off than we are now. Why? Let me submit this proposition to the lawyers of this House: Section 2 nakes the sweeping provision that it is an absolute bar to immluigration with certain exceptions. Reading those exceptions and reading the provisions of the bill you will find that the text of this liw covers the whole question of immigration and the admission of immigrants to this country. and how any judge undert :king to interpret the intention of Congress can escape the conclusion thatCongress took up the whole subject matter and legislated on it. and thereby by implication repealed all other laws in reference to it is something I can not understand. I am met with the suggestion that section 14 says thatThe provisions of this act are in addition to and not in substitution for the provisions of the immigration laws. Now what does that mean? That is just about as clear so far as the legal proposition I suggest as one would be providing that white shall not be interpreted as black. nor shall black be interpreted as white.