Speech #750060916

We feel that half a loaf may be better than no loaf at all. The bill is faulty in some respects but is salutary in many other respects. We are particularly eager to save from further hardship those members of families who might be subject to deportation if this bill were not passed. In the interest of common humanity we must indeed be moved to prevent the intense hardships. the harsh cruelties which would result from the separation of families resulting from deportation of a father or husband. However. I do not know why members of the committee limited the number of those who would thus be aided to 8.000. If you will read carefully section 2. you will observe on page 3 of the bill. subdivision (b). line 20. that 4 years are allotted for the exercise of limited discretion by the Department of Labor with reference to granting exemptions to these types of immigrants to prevent hardship and cruel separation of families. During the first year 3.500 would be aided. and during the 3 ensuing years 1.500 each year. making a total of 8.000 to be thus liberated. as it were. from the erstwhile hardships and intense cruelty which would result from deportation. The gentleman who wrote the majority report very wisely incorporated in his report an extract from the report of the Wickersham Commission on law enforcement and observance. which reads as follows: In deportation cases. even when the judgment is just and necessary. the hardships are extreme both upon those deported and their families who are permitted to remain. and In the opinion of the Commission the limited discretion to permit in cases of exceptional hardships a relaxation of the rigid requirements of the present statutes would be consistent with the dignity of a great and human nation. There are many more cases than 8.000. I do not know why the limit of 8.000 was placed In the bill. because. mind you. just as soon as you pass this billand I hope you willthere will be many families coming forward to claim exemption under the humanitarian provisions of section 2. I venture the assertion there will be many. many more than 8.000. Thousands of heads of families will come forward to claim exemption. If there are 8.001. you are going to save 8.000 but let the one be deported regardless of circumstances. or if there are 1.000 more than 8.000. why discriminate in that fashion and withhold this privilege from any one of these poor devils who came here. sometimes unwittingly. oftentimes to escape oppression. many of whom are refugees endeavoring to escape the pogroms of Russia and Rumania. the hideous cruelties of a Hitler. or the harsh treatment to which they may be subjected in Fascist Italy. It seems cruel. indeed. that the members of the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization should stop abruptly at 8.000. It is difficult to comprehend. in the spirit of the statement I have just read from the report of the Wickersham Commission. how this is in conformity with the dignity of a great and humane nation. I implore the Members to extend the blessings of this bill to others than the mere 8.000.