Speech #660341999

Mr. Speaker. I fully appreciate that it matters not how iniquitous and how discriminatory this bill is. in the great desire to" save" the Nation of the imminent imaginary danger which is claimed threatens our country from immigration. the majority of the Members will vote for it. Mr. Speaker. I am more than satisfieZl that if the Members of this House could dismiss from their minds the misleading reports. statements. and articles. and others their strong prejudice. this bill would not receive the approval of the House. Mr. Speaker. on the morning of the 6th of December. and before the House convened. the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization. unwarranted and in violation of the rules and precedents of this House. reported a bill which had not been introduced In the House nor referred to the committee. The bill. however. was amended and humanized on the floor of the House so that when it finally passed it was a fair and reasonable. though unnecessary. measure. Notwithstanding that the House was unduly hasty in considering and passing the bill. I was pleased with the point of view that was displayed by the majority of the Members that day. Though the bill as amended on the floor of the House suspended immigration for a period of 12 months. it did not exclude the blood relatives of thosenow resident in the United States. and thus made it possibleto bring about the reunion of families. It provided that a citizen of the United States who is a resident of the United States may. under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Labor. send for an otherwise admissible wife. parent. grandparent. unmarried son or brother under 21 years of age. unmarried or widowed daughter or sister. grandson under 16 years of age whose father is dead. and any alien who has declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States. and who is a resident of the United States. may make application to bring in an admissible husband or wife. unmarried son under 21 years of age. or unmarried or widowed daughter. Mr. Speaker. the bill also authorized the Secretary of Labor time right of discretion to waive the literacy test of such relatives. The Senate has stricken out all after the enacting clause of the House bill and substituted in lieu thereof a complete new bill embodyinga new principle never considered by this House. namely. the socalled percentage basis. Mr.