Speech #680070098

Without objection. section 22 will not be read. The reading of the bill was resumed. beginning on page 31. line 10. The next amendment of the Committee on Immigration was to strike out all of section 28. in the following words: SEc. 28. Section 17 of the immigration act of 1917 is amended to read as follows: " SEc. 17. That boards of special Inquiry shall be appointed by the commissioner of Immigration or inspector in charge at the various ports. of arrival as may be necessary for the prompt determination of all cases of imnIgrants detained at such ports under the provisions of the law. Each board shall consist of three members. who shall be selected from such of the immigrant officials in the service as the Commissioner General of Immigration. with the approval of the Secretary of Labor. shall from time to time designate as qualified to serve on sach boards. When in the opinion of the Secretary of Labor the maintenance of a permanent board of special inquiry for service at any sea or land border port Is not warranted. regularly constituted boards may te detailed from other stations for temporary service at such port. or. Ii that be Impracticable. the Secretary of Labor shall authorize the creation of boards of special Inquiry by the immigration officials in charge of such ports. and shall determine what Government officials or other persons shall be eligible for service on such boards. Such boards shall have authority to determine whether an alien who has been duly held shall be allowed to land or shall be deported. All hearings before such boards shall be separate and apart from the public. but the immigrant may have one friend or relative present under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Labor. Such boards shall keep a complete permanent record of their proceedings and of all such testimony as may be produced before them. and the decisions of any iwo members of the board shall prevail. but either the alien or any dissenting member of the sAid board may appeal to the commissioner of Immigration at the port of arrival. and the taking of such appeal shall operate to stay any aetioA in regard to the final disposal of any alien whose case is so appealed until the commissioner of immigration at the port of arrival shall render his decision. which shall be rendered solely upon the evidence adduced before the.board of special Inquiry. In every case where an alien is excluded from admission into the United States under any law or treaty now existing or hereafter made. the decision of a board of special inquiry adverse to the admission of such alien shall be final. unless reversed on appeal as aforesaid: Pro.rided. That the decision of a board of special inquiry shall be based upon the certificate of the examining medical officer and. except as provided in section 21 hereof. shall be final as to the rejection of aliens affected with tuberculosis in any form or with a loathsome or dangerous contagious disease. or with any mental or physical disability which would bring such aliens within any of the classes excluded from admission to the United States under section 3 of this act."