Speech #680079858

That my provision in this respect is another time and money saver is apparent. Another important change in my proposal is that Congress will specify definitely what shall be the time limit during which the seaman may remain In this country after his arrival. If the individual who has landed as an alien seaman exceeds his 60day stay. which is the legal period suggested. then the violation of that 60day limit will be prima facie evidence against him. and the burden will be upon him to prove that he Is still a bona fide seaman or be subjected to immediate deportation and the usual penalty will also be levied against the boat which brought him here. The Johnson bill. in dealing with this point. leaves the matter of determining the length of stay for the seamen landing In our ports entirely in the hands of the immigration officials. By doing this. it is placing the seamen at the mercy of the individual immigration officers. That is a dangerous policy. It is fraught with autocratic power and opportunity for abuse. My proposal. as I have shown. deals with this in a fair. efficient. and practical manner and merits your approval. The substitute also amply provides against the constant abuse under the present law. of our absolute exclusion policy of all Asiatics. Smuggling Chinese coolies in this country will be extremely difficult. if not almost impossible. under my provision on that question. by permitting only such alien seamen of the far eastern countries to land in American ports who sail under the flag of their mother country. which will make it very unlikely that alien seamen landing from such boats will desert their ship. Last. but not least. my provision that all vessels entering our ports must. when departing from the United States. take back as large a crew as they brought. is the final and absolute guaranty against any possible danger to our immigration policy through channels which heretofore were comparatively easy means for thousands of undesirables to penetrate this country in defiance of the law. I submit to you. gentlemen. that if we wish to have an effective immigration law. we can not close the front door and leave the back door wide open. My substitute amendments. if adopted. will bar this avenue of entry by the back door on the part of wouldbe seamen that are being smuggled into this country by the thousands and will also safeguard the rights secured to time seamen by the La Follette Seamens Act. LXV389