Speech #760263820

I have no way of knowing how much more discussion there will be on the pending amendment. In view of the statement made by the Senator from Georgia [Mr. RusSELL]. the chairman of the Committee on Immigration. I venture to express the hope. if I may have the attention of the Senator from North Carolina. that he will withdraw the amendment he has offered. which is the same as the bill which has been pending before the Committee on Immigration. which has been reported to the Senate. and is now on the calendar with a majority and minority report. and which will entitle it to consideration on its merits. . I wish to emphasize that hope by this observation. that the amendment offered by the Senator. and the bill itself reported by the committee. and which passed the House. is a bill of unusual nature. While no one doubts the ability and the right of Congress to pass a bill deporting an individual. there are many Senators who feel that Bridges should be deported who hesitate to vote for a measure applicable to only one individual. and for that reason it may be impossible to have the question passed on on its merits. If I may state my own attitude. I may vote for the bill as reported by the Committee on Immigration. but I could not vote for it as an amendment of the Senator from North Carolina to the pending bill. because I do not think it has any place on this bill. Of course. we have no rule of germaneness in the Senate. and anything is in order on any measure. unless it be a regular appropriation bill. But in the interest of honest. fair legislation. and in the interest of the consideration of a bill which has been reported by the Committee on Immigration to the Senate when it may be considered on its merits. free from entanglement with any other legislation. and I say this in the utmost kindness. for I know how interested the Senator from North Carolina is in this whole question. not only applicable to Harry Bridges. but to all aliens who should be deported from this country. and the Senator has alway received a sympathetic hearing in the Senate from all Senators. including myselfI believe this question is one which should be debated on its merits. and it cannot be considered on its merits as an amendment to the pending bill. * In view of all these considerations I wish the Senator would withdraw his amendment.