Speech #700009689

This House desires its Committee on Appropriations to make intelligent recommendations. and in our effort to do so we have sought information from those whom we felt were qualified to advise what money could be wisely expended in carrying out the authorizations of Congress. I feel reasonably sure the House will find that the amounts carried in this bill are reasonable and provide sufficient funds for an efficient discharge of duties by the several Government agencies cared for ill this bill. Some reference has been made to the border patrol. and it is proper to say that a large part of their duties consist in turning back Canadians and Mexicans who. by filing application and paying a certain fee. might be lawfully admitted. No individual penalty is imposed on those who seek to enter without complying with the requirements of the law. As a result many of them repeatedly offend. and until the legislative committee imposes some Penalty. -at least on repeaters. you will not aid the border patrol in their efforts to enforce our immigration law. If the legislative commnittee will provide a punitive penalty for the second offense it will relieve the border patrol of a large part of the work it is now engaged in. I take this opportunity to say that the border patrol is the most intelligent body of young men that I have come hi contact with in the Government service. [Applanse.] They are zealous in the enforcement of immigration laws. I (lid not find one who did not feel he was there as the representative of the Government to carry out the mandate of Congress and to see to it that those not entitled to enter should stay out. Down on the southern border. when a large number of border patrol men were gathered together. the question was asked by the gentlenman from New York I. " How many of you boys were in the World War?" The answers disclosed that about 80 per cent of that number were exservice men. They are engaged in a dangerous service and undergo at times many serious discomforts. It was because of the importance of their work and the low salaries they received therefor that the committee has recommended in this bill a reasonable increase in their pay.