Speech #660290456

Chairman. of course. if the House desires to increase this particular item in the bill by the sum of $500.000 for the purpose of increasing the salaries of the inspectors. that is its privilege. but the Committee on Appropriations have endeavored to act consistently in these matters. We have refrained from increasing salaries. feeling that no salaries should be increased in the appropriation bills until after the Congress has considered the reclassification bill. As was suggested a while ago. if the salaries of these inspectors are too low. then the committee which has legislative jurisdiction of this subject. the Committee on Immigration. should report a bill and have it considered in accordance with proper legislative procedure. As the gentleman from Iowa states. the committee have recommended an increase of $400.000 in this item. The current appropriation under this head carries $2.600.000. That item has been increased in this bill to $3.000.000. or an increase of $400.000. which. it should be stated. includes the former appropriation for deportation of anarchists. but which should be sufficient to take care of the objection urged by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Box] and others with reference to the inadequacy of the force. if there be such an inadequacy. But I wish to submit to you this proposition: This House passed a bill the othei day which undertook tolimit or practically to restrict immigration for a certain period of time. That bill is now pending in the Senate. If it passes that body and becomes a law. then I submit in all reason that the Government will not require that great force of inspectors to which the gentleman refers. and therefore I think this matter should be permitted to go over. and that we should wait and see just what the Senate is going to do with tlat immigration bill. But whether they pass it or not. I for my part want. to protest against this attempted action here upon the floor of this House to increase the salaries of some of these inspectors by a lumpsum arrangement. giving the administrative authority the right to increase them without taking into consideration the salaries of other inspectors and other employees who are not increased in this bill. and estimates for whose increases were refused by the committee.