The thing still goes on. The proposal then came squarely In the House bill to authorize the Secretary to demand such bonds as he felt would be sufficient. The committee. after looking at all sides of the question. and being unable to agree to adopt proposals which would have closed the openings through which the people having no right in the United States could come in and the law thus be violated. left the seamen in substantially the same position as they are now. except that it permits the Immigration officer to determine the length of time that a seaman shall be permitted to remain on shore. This certainly should. not be left to the immigration officer who Inspects the crews of the vessels. It should be a question of regulation Issued by the department. and It is to be hoped that the bill will at least be amended to -that extent. When so amended It will meet the seamens situation and leave the seamens law intact. but it will not meet the Immigration situation. An opportunity to bring immigrants to the United States In the guise of seamen. regardless of whether they be generally excluded persons. as under the exclusion laws. or provisionally excluded. as under the immigration laws. will continue. Why this should be permitted to continue Is incomprehensible. There is evidence that the bill. which is being prepared by the Senate committee in lieu of adopting legislation which would close the openings and make the two laws function together. is to be so drawn that the shipowner. foreign and American. will accomplish his purpose by holding seamen coming into ports of the United States as prisoners on board of their vessels.
Keywords matched
Immigration immigration immigrants