Speech #670413005

Mr. Speaker. I desire to present a brief *statement concerning the work of the House Coinmittee on Immigration and Naturalization during the Sixtyseventh Congress. and to outline a program for that committee in the Sixtyeighth Congress. First. let me say that no committee of the House has sat more days. examined more witnesses. received and considered more petitions. documents. written statements and letters. In my opinion there is a greater and more widespread demand for the immigration hearings than the hearings of any other committee. I think there Is more public interest in immigration than in any other subject. From the leaders of debating teams in the most remote rural schools to the bestknown instructors in the most prominent universities come requests for information. From the latest candidates for citizenship to the largest employers of labor come letters asking for copies of hearings. bills. and reports. Petitions comb. on one side from the patriotic orders. and on the other sidefor freer immigration-. from the socalled hyphenated alliances and societies. and even from known anarchistic and revolutionary organizations. Letters pour in from the nationals of all the countries of the world. asking this. that. and everything Imaginable. while aliens who have reached the United States appear daily at the door of the committee room appealing for the admission of somue relative or friend. Ever is the committee reminded that the problems of immigration carry with them all the problems of the human heart. Every day is some phase of "The Divine Comedy" or " Tragedy" revealed. But. Mr. Speaker. every day it is made apparent to every member of the committee that the greatest question before the people of the United States is immigration. More. it is not only the greatest but the most vital. All the future of the United States hangs on the problems before this committee. Forty other intermediate problems. each seriousagiculture. manufacture. L lucation. food supply. relations wvith other nations. wages. the care of dependents and defectives. our standard of living. our language. our birth rate. our customs. our theaters. and so onall are affected by what the Congress of the United States does with regard to immigration. And remember that each committee of Congress is in itself a little congress which tables some bills. modifies and renders inocuous other bills. and reports through its chairman still -other bills. advocating with all the strength permissible within parliamentary limitations the passage of those bills and their enactment into law. To secure enactment the House. the Senate. and the Chief Executive must be substantially in accordwhich accounts for the failure each Congress of so many bills which to some. of us seem so desirable. Mr. Speaker. I desire to compliment the members of the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization for their patience. their constant attendance at long committee sessions. and for their assistance with the chairmans program. in spite of the great differences of opinion which are bound to exist when 15 men are gathered together. not only from all parts of America but from different parts of the world. to outline our legislative policy. If I may. I shall print the names of the members of this committee in this Congress.