President. I wish to say that the steamship colpany has got to prove the facts. Tlere might be cases where the steamship companies would be entirely blameless. but in all such cases we must depend upon the Department of Labor and tie Commissioner of Immigration not to waive the penalty unless the facts in extenuation are clearly shown and proved. We might imagine a case where a steamer started from Naples on Monday. the officials of the line having competent information that they were bringing in immigrants within the quota. Another steamship starts on Wednesday. The first steamship is a slower one or is detained at Sea. and the immigrants on the steamship which started last. if you please. fill the quota. so that those coming on the first but slower steamship would be in excess of the quota by a considerable number. There are -certainly cases arising in which it would be absolutely unjust to make the proposed law mandatory. and it therefore follows that there should be some discretion on the part of the Department of Labor to waive the penalty in cases in which it is shown the steamship companies are innocent. It was aloig that line that the House conferees insisted that the provision should not be made absolutely mandatory. and. therefore. we consented to the modification.
Keywords matched
Immigration immigrants