Speech #660290383

The importance of examining these seamen is patent. Many arrived who deserted their ships and never returned to them. In that way they evaded the vis6 law or the immigration law. Examinations were. therefore. commenced of all these seamen on board these ships. This leaves practically only 42 inspectors to examine seventeen to eighteen thousand immigrants arriving weekly. and you ask these inspectors to do what? To examine the passports which have been vis~ed on the other side. to pass on the literacy tests of these aliens. to sit as special courts of Inquiry. and to work seven days a week in very numerous cases for the great big sum of $1.200 a year up to $1.900 and $2.000 a year. What is the condition along the Canadian border? You have 76 ports of entry and 23 doctors to examine aliens who propose to come into America.