Speech #710180422

The Senator is always courteous and always friendly to all people. The Senator from California will remember that a few days ago the Resident Commissioners from the Philippine Islands addressed to the chairman of the Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs a letter which the Senator has before him in the R on. in which they asked to be heard by a Senate committee on this matter. Out of courtesy to those commissionerswho are here without a vote in the Congress. but representing the interests of 12.000.000 people who are. in a way. our wardsit does seem to me that they should be heard by a committee of the Senate on this nmatter before we are asked to vote upon it. and agahi I appeal to the Senator. from his sense of fairness and his desire to be friendly and courteous to them. to permit this matter to be sent back to the Committee on Immigration. or any committee that he desires. in order to permit the Resident Commissioners from the Philippines to be heard on this matter. While it is true that they have an opportunity to express themselves on the floor of the House. they have no opportunity to express themselves on the floor of the Senate. No Senator. so far as I know. has heard their views in regard to this matter. nor the reasons for those views. and I ask the Senator from California if. out of kindness of his heart and his desire to be friendly to our 12.000.000 wards. lie will not permit this matter to be referred to the Committee on Immigration. or any other committee that he desires. to permit the commissioners to be heard. before we are asked to vote upon it.