Speech #710106749

Mr. Chairman. hearings are being held by the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization upon two bills. one introduced by the gentleman from Washington [Mr. JoerNsoN]. the chairman of the committee. and the other by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Box]. the ranking minority member of the committee. The bills are practically identical in purpose. and. therefore. it seems there is likelihood of a favorable report from the (om-. mittee on these bills. in view of the fact there seems to be no party disagreement. in fact. I think the gentleman from Washington a few days ago stated he expected to report the bill he was introducing that day. These bills have to do with immigrants coming to this country who were born in countries of the Western Hemisphere. Possibly I would not feel Impelled to bring up this subject at this time were it not for a speech made in the House on Monday last by the gentleman from Illinois . who. for a long time. was himself a member of this committee. I would like to read two extracts from that speech. appearing In the REwonm. On page 1543 Mr. SABATH spoke as follows: For a long time I could not understand why we were continually asked to restrict European immigration and leave the doors wide open to Canada. Mexico. the Central and South Americas. and the West Indies. But as time went on I began to perceive the light. It was because the great Interests In New England wanted Canadian labor as a club to enable them to reduce or hold down the wages of the American workers in the textile and lumber Industries. Then again on the following page lie speaks. as follows: I feel that with the exception of such interests that utilize and benefit by the Mexican and Canadian and West Indian labor no one will have the temerity to say that the immigrants from these countries were entitled to the preference over the European immigrantspeople that have aided so much in the upbuilding of our country. Therefore. the -statement made by the gentleman from Washington that he will shortly report a bill. which he has this day introduced. placing the Western Hemisphere on a quota basis same as applies to European immigration is welcomllod by me and will receive my support. My particular interest at this time centers around the first extract I read in the speech of the gentleman from Illinois. in which he makes the remarkable statement that the textile and lumber industries of New England want Canadian labor to reduce or hold down the wages of American workers. I think if the gentleman had investigated the situation in New England and was as familiar with It as he undoubtedly is with conditions in the city of Chicago he would have hesitated before he made that statement.