Speech #710178271

The Mexican situation perhaps is the most prominent thing in this ininigration bill at the present time. Perhaps the greatest contention has been about the Mexicans. I have listened for three years in the Immigration Committee to testimony on the Mexican question and the character and habits of Mexicans. I can positively prove by the testimony that has been given that the Mexicans are the best. the cleanest. the nicest. the most respectable. the most peaceloving people that there are on earth. I can also prove by testimony that has been offered in the Immigration Committee that they are not fit to come up here and live with our pigs. that they are the most disreputable. cheap class of people on earth. So there you are. I think enough testimony has been given here. pro and con. so that if we can equalize it a little. and consider both sides a little extravagant in their statements. we will have to admit that California. Arizona. and some other States need some Mexican labor at certain seasons of the year. The substitute I have offered for the Harris bill I think equalizes the whole situation pretty well. There is one thing we have to say about itthat this measure was drawn up by the Immigration Committee of the House. In all our immigration bills in the past few years it has been very hard to get through the House anything that we agreed to over here. Now they have the best immigration bill that I have ever seen. and I shall be glad to adopt their bill. There is one thing we are sure of: We are going to give Mexico a chance to furnish some of our laborabout 11.000 for the first year. about 7.000 for the second year. and then they go on a quota. whatever we have a mind to do with them. after that. This will help out the people down there who are depending on Mexican labor for the next year or two. and give them a chance to prepare for some other sources of labor if they have too. The next good. feature of this measure is that it is acceptable to the House. and if we pass it we may do something that we have not done in my four years of experience herethat is. get any satisfaction out of immigration bills. The national origins bill passed here by a very close shave a year or two ago. and it has not been very satisfactory. The socalled Norbeck amendment takes care of a good deal of that.