Mr. Speaker. the first efforts to control immigration were made by the States. but the laws passed by theta were ineffective and were finally declared void. because Congress alone had power to legislate adequately on the subject. An almost fatal delay in meeting the perils of the immigration situation has already occurred. The act of 1917. which. because of the force of public senti. ment behind it and because of the overwhelming demand in Congress for restriction. was passed over the Presidents veto. It has been estimated that that act would keep out about onefourth of those who were coming during the preceding years but the flood was rising so high that the threefourths who would continue to come would probably tax the carrying capacity of passenger shipping. and thus pour upon us a number as great as the ships could bring. notwithstanding the restrictions of the literacy tesr the enactment of which was certainly a step in the right direction.
Keywords matched
immigration