Speech #660290465

Mr. Chairman. I do not agree with the gentleman from Tennessee that the Committee on Immigration would have jurisdiction to bring in a bill providing for the salaries of the various employees in that department. He will remember that about 10 years ago the power was taken away from the committee as well as the separate fund which up to that time was used by the department to carry on the work at Ellis Island. In other words. up to 10 years ago the head tax collected at Ellis Island and other ports was permitted to be used by the Commissioner of Immigration for the purpose of defraying the expenses of that service. but in the Sixtysecond Congress. by an amendment to an appropriation bill. that was changed. and the appropriative power was taken away from the Immigration Committee. and the department was required by the act to turn over the head tax to the general fund. and ever since the appropriations were made for the service by the Appropriation Committee. Since that time I believe that more than $5.000.000 has been collected through the head tax over and above the amount expended by the Immigration Service. During the last four years there was no immigration. and consequently the amount appropriated was sufficient. but in the last six monthsbecause prior to that. due to the war. the naturalized United States citizens have been unable to bring their families over to this countryimmigration has increased. but the appropriation has not. and nothing has been (lone to enable the officials of Ellis Island to cope with the situation. I think it is manifestly unfair that we should make money out of these unfortunate men. women. and children who are coming to our shores. There should be no desire to make money out of them.