Speech #730107302

I think it can be safely said that the majority of aliens who have entered this country illegally during the past 25 years are still here. As I previously stated. they lose themselves and conceal their identity in the great populous centers of the country. I might also add that there is no question that most of these aliens can be deported by appropriate legislation and vigorous enforcement of the law. This bill is also objected to by shipowners because they say it imposes too great a burden upon vessels by requiring them to pay the expenses to deport inadmissible immigrants brought by them under the guise of seamen and making it necessary for the vessel to carry away with her as large a crew as she brought. The answer to this is that if the master or owner of the vessel will obey the law and will exercise prudence and care in selecting as members of the crew bona fide seamen. they have nothing to fear. Shipowners who do not wish to obey our laws and help us prevent smuggling and illegal entries should be penalized. Although many shipowners have opposed this bill for many years and successfully blocked favorable consideration. they have never proposed any adequate substitute for it. They all admit that thousands of aliens are entering this country illegally by desertions and that this condition is making ineffective our immigration laws. but they have never come forward with any constructive plan to remedy the situation. This bill is one of the most important bills that organized labor has sponsored in many years. It will not only materially aid American seamen by giving them the jobs now filled by Asiatics on board American vessels. but it will help all other classes of American labor. The thousands of aliens illegally entering the United States under the guise of seamen compete with the American workmen. Perhaps the word "compete " does not adequately express the true situation.