These vessels were also provided with highpowered radio receiving and sending equipment. with Diesel engines developing 4 to 550 horsepower. Although these vessels were operating in the disguise of innocent fishing craft they were in reality operating for sinister purposes. Under the Undocumented Motor Boat Act of 1918 it required that certain numerals prescribed by the Department of Customs be carried on the bow of the vessels but these numerals were transferred to a license plate which merely hung over the bow and could be changed at any time in midocean. Under the present law no registration of ownership or of the crew is required. The amendment I am offering proposes that no such vessel shall be permitted to operate by aliens unless the owner. or owners thereof. shall be American citizens. or owned by a corporation. none of whose directors. stockholders. officers. employees. lessees. or charterers shall be prohibited by law from becoming an immigrant to the United States or a United States citizen. and within 24 hours before the sailing or shipping of such vessel it shall be required that all of such crew be registered with the Department of Customs and Commerce and that no such employees may be changed or substituted without giving notice to the Department of Commerce and Customs of such change of such employee or seaman. A report of the findings of the committee was made to the Department at the time of the conclusion of the hearings which later resulted in tfie indictment of five Japanese and some American citizens. the case being brought to trial in September 1938. and the defendants Genkichi Koish and Gilbert C. Van Camp pleaded nolo contendere to a violation of the section of the United States Code as charged in the indictment and were fined over $7.000. and in lieu of forfeiture of the craft paid in addition thereto a fine of $38.000.
Keywords matched
immigrant Undocumented