Speech #680204856

Now. I am willing to trust the President in this regard. and I think that you should be willing to trust the President. I do not seek by this amendment to disturb any power to charge for the vis6 whether you charge it against the immigrant or charge it against the traveler or globetrotter. I simply say to the President. "Mr. President. if you feel that it would be in our interest and our welfare to relieve not only the traveler but the immigrant as well of a charge for a vis6. I want you to do It." Now. we recently passed a selective restriction immigration act. and it was our purpose to bring in the best kind of immigrant from Europe. Now. we must. therefore. start out with the premise that these immigrants are the best we can get and therefore we must welcome these Immigrants. We should not put upon them any unjust or Intolerable burden. What happens to the immigrant when he comes here? We charge him a vis6 fee of $10 under the immigration act of 1924 and charge him $8 as a head tax. and there has been placed during the last year in the bill basket probably a dozen bills for the registration of aliens. and if one of those bills should pass. you put another burden upon the aliena registration fee. Some of the bills provide for a $25 registration fee. That same alien you ought to help and assist. not harm and hamper. He comes from the parts of Europe whence come the socalled Nordics. and. if you can believe the speeches made in favor of the immigration act. they are the best that you can get into this country. Now. if they are the best why should you burden them that way?-and for that reason this amendment should pa ss. Nearly every other country---Canada. all the South American countriesdo everything in their power to ease the burden of desirable Immigrants. They pay their railroad fares across the country. they give them land grants. providing they he good immigrants. But we seem to have embarked upon a policy of harassing and embarrassing with petty taxes and assessments and unjust vis6 charges. These immigrants whom we so well desire and deserveshould be helped. not harassed.and discredited. There is a head tax of $8. a vis6 fee of $10. They are rather oppressive claims upon the aliens. They can ill afford to pay for them. and I say give the right to the President. in his discretion. not necessarily to relieve the immigrant of the entire charge. but the right to decide. in accordance with the bes t public interests. whether that charge shall be $9 or $8 or no charge whatsoever. I will end as I started by saying I am willing to accord that discretion to the President. and a vote against the amendment would be a denial of the efficacy of giving tile President that discretion.