Speech #670282968

I am unable fully to understand the attitude of the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations concerning this bill. He indicates a prejudice against the Labor Department that is difficult to understand. Any man who goes thoroughly into a statement of the facts in this case is bound to realize it is for the betterment of the United States to have these immigration appeal services rendered by an assistant secretary. The gentleman from Texas. a moment ago. attempted to lead this House to believe that because there are fewer immigrants coming into this country we should need fewer immigration officers. He either is not in possession of the facts or did not want to give the House the facts. one or the other. He knows or ought to know the restriction we put upon immigration causes so many appeals that the Labor Department today is actually overwhelmed with them. They can not hope to fairly hear those appeals unless we give them the relief asked for in this bill. Certain gentlemen say let the Immigration Commissioner pass upon them. The appeal decision must be made by some one. It must be by the Secretary or a deputy. We could authorize the commissioner to decide the whole question. of course. But the people more familiar with the immigration problems realize that that is not the thing to do. We ought to have a check placed upon it by way of appeal. When we are trying to stop the flood of undesirable citizens coming into this country it is worth while to give a little bit of consideration to this question of appeals. which have amounted to 2.000 a month.