Speech #670386697

Congress. by the act of March 2. 3921. extended the provision of its original act in so far as it related to requiring passports and vis6s of aliens seeking to come to the United States and providing that such law should continue iu force and effect until otherwise provided by law. An alien is charged with a fee of $1 for executing applicltion for a vis6 and $9 for each vis6 of the passport. Under the Executive order and regulations. certain discretion is given the Americat consul. but that discretion is limited as to the vis6ing of immigrants passports. For example. an alien presents his application and his $1 to American consul -with the request that his passport be visaed. If the consul believes him to be an eneiy of our country aind its form of goverinmient. then under regulations of State Department lie has the right to refuse to vis6 the passport. So also. if inmigrant presents his passport and the quota for his particular natilality is filled and no more can be admitted. then he may again exercise his discretion and refuse to vis6 that passport. Again. if the quota is exhausted. lie has the discretion of determining whether the party presenting the i ssport is of exempted class and not within the quota. and if he so lind1s. lie may vis6 the passport. Or. again. if the quota is aliost exhausted and several immigrants apply. part of whom come within preferred class as designated by the immigration laws and part do not. lie may exercise his discretion and vis6 the passports of those within the preferred class. But. beyond that point the consul has no further discretion. Under section 3 of our immigration law there are 30 or 40 classes of aliens eumierated who can not be admitted even if quota is not filled. such as idiots. insane. criminals. prostitutes. those afflicted with loathsome contagious or dangerous contagious diseases. contract laborers. and yet the consul. even though lie may know that such applying immigrant comes clearly within the class not admitted. has no right to exercise lils discretion and refuse a vis. But. on the other hand. it seems to be mandatory that the passport must he visfed. The alien may be warned by the consul and at the same time the officils at port of entry are warned of coming of inadmissible alien. fHow much better it would be to refuse the vise of passport rather than permit this immigrant to sell his home. if he has one. his personal property. buying a highpriced steamship ticket. coming to America In the steerage. enduring suffer ing and hardship. only when lie reaches our port of elltry to have his hopes blasted and to be refused admittance for the very cause and the very reason that the American consul knew to exist at time lie visded tie passport.