Mr. Speaker. when we denied the right to a foreign shipmaster to arrest a deserting alien seaman. we invited the alien seaman to stand upon our docks while his ship sailed and to go into the population of this country. I do not claim that there should be the right in the master of a ship to arrest to enforce a contract. but if an alien seaman seeks to enter this country other than by the prescribed modes of immigration. let him be arrested and taken back to the ship. On the one hand we are inviting these aliens to come in. and on the other we are penalizing the ship when the ship has no power to stop them from coming in. Mr. Speaker. I will go as far as anyone in stopping immigration into this country. I have voted for every bill that would restrict immigration that has ever been brought up on the floor of the House since I have been here. and I think my record is consistent on this point. I will go further: Let these gentlemen require that a certificate shall be given to every man who goes ashore as an alien seaman. and if he is found in the body of the population after its expiration let him be deported. I am perfectly willing to go along with the registration of immigrants in this country and have a checkup on them so that they may be sent out. This bill will be nothing else but stopping at the spigot when you ought to be stopping at the bunghole. Has the Secretary of State been heard on this measure?
Keywords matched
deported immigration immigrants