All nations have rules or laws providing a minimum of a crew. but the master may take as many more as he shall think needed for safety. and he is to bring those men back. unless they desert or are otherwise missing. Manifestly it requires as many men to bring a vessel safely over the same waters east to Europe or west to Asia as it takes to bring the vessel safely west from Europe or east front Asia. When a vessel comes here overmanned and leaves from 10 to 100 men behind. it is plainly with the purpose of evading the immigration law and making a profit in so doing. This amendment would stop such a violation of our Immigration laws. Nor can It be justly contended that such a vessel would take away better men than it brings. It will take away the cheapest and therefore the least efficient men that can be found. Generally speaking. better men will be brought than are taken away unless they be purely immigrants masquerading as seamen. In which case. not being bona fide seamen. the vessel will pay the expenses of their deportation. The landing card is needed more especially in order that excluded persons who are here as seamen may be observed and. If need be. identified and deported. It is the same as to all nations and in that. as in other respects. there is no discrimination. As indicated. the evidence shows that large numbers of persons who under the law are excluded from admission to our shores ship as seamen when they are not. They ship as seamen for the purpose of evading our laws and of entering the United States. Under existing law thousands have been permitted to enter our ports and large numbers have escaped deportation. This amendment is offered for the purpose of more effectually closing the gates against those who. under the bill as it has been amended. are excluded from our shores.
Keywords matched
Immigration immigration immigrants deported deportation