Speech #780028211

Mr. Speaker. this resolution makes in order House bill 2076. unanimously agreed to by the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization and unanimously reported by the Rules Committee after the Rules Committee insisted that certain provisions in the original bill be clarified and amended. Acting on the suggestion of the Rules Committee. the Immigration Committee has eliminated the objectionable features and submitted a new bill. H. R. 2076. The rule provides for 1 hour debate on the bill after which it will be taken up under the 5minute rule and be open for amendment. The purpose of the bill is to amend section 20 of the Immigration Act of February 5. 1917. as amended. so as to enable the Government. while the United States is at war. to deport to countries allied with the United States certain aliens. citizens or subjects of Allied countries. who cannot for reasons growing out of the war to be deported to their own countries. It applies to seamen who have deserted their ships and it is my understanding that there are between 7.000 and 10.000 now in this country in such deserted status. As one who supported and voted for the enactment of the La Follette Seamens Act and who is opposed to any harsh laws in time of peace. I feel that now that we are at war that conditions confronting us justifies this legislation. Efforts have been made to obtain the release of some of these detained seamen on the basis of their willingness to reship on our vessels or those of our allies. It appears. however. that most of them have refused to do so and as most of them cannot be deported to the countries of their nativity it is necessary that the adoption of this bill be had because three Federal district courts have ruled that it is not within the provisions of existing law to deport Allied seamen to the United Kingdom on the theory that the government of such persons is set up there in elile. holding the language "the country from whence they came" means the "country territorially" and not the "country governmentally." Mr. Speaker. I fully appreciate the objections interposed to the bill by the representatives of various organizations. namely. Hugh DeLacy. national chairman. American Committee for Protection of Foreign Born. Joseph Curran. president. National Maritime Union.