lumbia Quarry Co., St. Louis, Mo.; P. C. Hodges, Marble Cliff Quarries Co., Columbus, Ohio; Otho M. Graves, General Crushed Stone Co., Easton, Pa.; A. Acton Hall, Ohio Marble Co., Piqua, Ohio; W. L. Sporberg, Rock Cut Stone Co., Syracuse, N. Y.; James Savage, Buffalo Crushed Stone Co., Buffalo, N. Y.; F. T. Gucker, John T. Dyer Quarry Co., Norristown, Pa.; Clarence Blakeslee, C. W. Blakeslee & Sons, New Haven, Conn.; M. D. Wendall, New York Trap Rock Co., New York City, N. Y.; W. G. Swart, Mosabi Iron Co., Babbitt, Minn.; Leathem W. Smith, Leathem W. Smith Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wis.; R. W. Scheror, Western Lime & Cement Co., Milwaukee, Wis.; W. Scott Eames, New Haven Trap Rock Co., New Haven, Conn. RESOLUTION PRESENTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND RAILROADS TO THE NATIONAL CRUSHED STONE CONVENTION, ASSEMBLED IN CHICAGO, JANUARY 15-17, 1923. Whereas the members of this association have, during the year 1922, found it impossible to obtain a sufficient amount of common labor to properly conduct their business and operate their plants, notwithstanding the offer of extraordinary inducements and wages; and Whereas this condition seriously curtailed their output and added greatly to the cost of production and seriously jeopardizes their future business; and Whereas this condition has affected not only the crushed stone industry, but has denuded the farms of labor, has seriously crippled and in some cases caused to be abandoned the important road-building programs of many States, and has seriously retarded and affected factory production and building construction of all kinds throughout the United States, and is the principal factor in the high cost of all commodities; Whereas, because of the natural shrinkage in the amount of common labor, this condition becomes more acute daily, and Whereas it is admitted that the only possible remedy for this condition is immigration of labor from Europe; therefore Whereas mindful of the serious and critical condition of the railroads and public carriers and of the possibility of their merging into one or more great systems or being operated by the Government, and aware of the suggestions being freely made as to the curtailing of all road-building and construction work in general in the hope of relieving the present congested freight conditions: Therefore be it Resolved, That this association considers the acute shortage of common labor and the railroad situation the most important matters before the American people at this time; conditions that seriously menace the prosperity of the entire population, the big obstacle in the way of 100 per cent prosperity; and further be it Resolved, That while this association does not advocate unrestricted and unlimited immigration, it respectfully urges upon the President and Congress of the United States the urgent necessity at this time of so wisely modifying and amending the present immigration law, that a sufficient amount of common labor may come from Europe to properly man the farms and industries of this country, and further urges that immediate action be taken in the matter, so that beneficial results shall be obtained during the year 1923; therefore be it further Resolved, That the president of this association be instructed to appoint a committee on immigration and railroads to take such steps throughout the ensuing year as may best protect not only the interests of our industry but of industry in general and that this committee be not unmindful of the counsel of the board of directors in carrying out this work; be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be submitted to the American Road Builders' Association with a view toward taking such joint action as may best serve our mutual interests. Adopted in convention assembled in Chicago, Ill., January 16, 1923. A. P. SANDLES, Secretary National Crushed Stone Association, Columbus, Ohio. The CHAIRMAN. We will now consider the public hearings closed. As per previous announcements the statements of one or two gentlemen who asked to appear as witnesses will be accepted and printed in these hearings. The various matters on the chairman's table will be inserted. STATEMENT OF W. J. COYNE, IMMIGRANT INSPECTOR, ELLIS ISLAND, N. Y. Mr. COYNE. Mr. Chairman, many persons are of the impression that the Immigraion Service has little to do for the balance of the fiscal year because the quota for pracacally all of southern Europe and Asia Minor, Africa, and Australia was closed on December 1, 1922. The facts are that the service is kept very busy for the entire fiscal year by immigrants arriving from the other open quota countries as well as many thousands coming rom the closed quota countries, the most of these latter claiming to be in the exempt classes under the act of May 19, 1921. Those claiming exemption after the quota is closed must necessarily be given a very careful examination in order to determine whether or not they fall within any of the Tempted classes, all of which requires considerable more time than if the quota status was not in question, and, of course, all of this has to be done in conjunction with their examination as to their admissibility under the general immigration laws of February J. 1917, and other dates. During the fiscal year of 1922 when nearly all immigration employees were furloughed for one month without pay between March and June 30, 1922, because of the depletion of the appropriation, we were badly handicapped by lack of sufficient help during the furlough period and those on duty had to work considerable overtime to keep the work caught up. Four thousand three hundred and forty-five persons were deported that year on warrant proceedings which necessitated warrants of arrest and deportation to be served and executed, with the attendant hearings to be given, etc., as well as carrying on the regular normal work of the service, which is always heaviest from April to November of each year. Recent conditions at Ellis Island show that the exhaustion of the quota under the present law does not lessen our work very much; in fact, at present it seems to be increasing, a memo from the boarding division showing on Sunday, January 14, 1923, there was a heavy snowstorm, with six big passenger ships docking that day, while the next day there were eight passenger ships due, among which was the Italian Steamship Conte Rosso with 1,248 passengers, although the Italian quota was closed. The line had asked for quota on 776 Italians, which was refused. A week later under similar conditions of a heavy snowstorm, there were seven big ships docking, with 1.276 cabin passengers, on one day. At the present time there are about 1,600 aliens held on Ellis Island for final determination of their application for admission or awaiting deportation, this causing congestion. The steamship Acropolis arrived on January 15, 1923, with 342 aliens of 16 different nationalities, the quotas for 12 of which are closed for the balance of the fiscal year. Following I submit a statement showing a part of the work of the boarding division at New York for December, 1922, and from January 1 to January 20, 1923, which indicates that the work of the Immigration Service still continues to be quite heavy, notwithstanding that it is wintertime and in spite of the fact that the quotas are closed for many countries. Some of the work performed by the boarding division, Immigration Service, at New York during December, 1922, and in January, 1923, up to the 20th, inclusive. Total persons inspected.... Cabin passengers refused admission and ordered to Ellis Island by inspectors. 56, 428 893 17, 367 71 800 Total persons inspected.... Cabin passengers refused admission and ordered to Ellis Island by inspectors. 8,845 62 The CHAIRMAN. With reference to the labors of the House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization in connection with legislation made necessary during the period of the war, and particularly with reference to the legislation made necessary after the entrance of the United States into the war, I would like to say a word. Beginning with the labors of this committee in the latter part of the Sixty-fifth Congress and running almost continuously during the three long sessions of the Sixtysixth Congress, and now about to wind up the fourth session of the Sixty-seventh Congress, this committee has held more hearings and longer hearings, and made a more intensive study of the many hard and serious problems pertaining to immigration and naturalization than has any other committee of the House during that whole period of time with the possible exception of one or two. It is a pleasure to state for the record the personal appreciation of the chairman of the work of all the members of the committee who have served on the committee during that time. I think the members can appreciate, far beyond the people of the United States, the intensity of these problems. The newspapers, the magazines, and the public generally have but faint conception of the difficulty in making the various angles of the whole investigation question fit each other. How many persons realize that any immigration laws we may report must affect Porto Rico, an insular possession, in one way and Hawaii, a Territory, in another? How many persons know the trouble in trying to make the immigration laws written primarily for immigration from overseas fit the land border situation? How many know just how the Chinese exclusion act and the Japanese gentlemen's agreement affect other sections of any immigration law that we propose? The passport act and the seamen's act also affect our provisions. (The committee thereupon proceeded to the consideration of executive matters.) APPENDIX. Letters and statements have been received by the committee for incorporation in these hearings, as follows: Hon. ALBERT JOHNSON, HOUGHTON ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE; Chairman Committee of Immigration, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: Inclosed find copy of resolution which our association of commerce duly passed on December 30, in which we recommend and petition our legal representatives at Washington and the Government to amend the immigration law so as to place common labor of desirable class on the best footing possible for their accessibility into our country and to remove discrimination against them, but on the contrary give them the same favorable features as are accorded skilled and professional labor. We believe that this labor is more necessary than the class which receives more favorable consideration. We also believe that the present system of examination of immigrants is fatally defective and intolerable; it is too costly for immigrants to undertake to get passports in Europe from our consul and then also take the chance of getting admitted after they get here. All this should be done by agencies of our Government in foreign countries and means provided through our Government for assistance to worthy and desirable types of homeseekers and settlers, and we wish to lay particular stress upon common labor of a desirable type. By desirable type" we mean those that are strong and healthy and have inelinations to work and build homes and become owners of homes in this country. Of course we would be strong to put restrictions against itinerants, peddlers, agitators, reformers, etc., but we do believe that good, honest common labor that desires to make a home and bring up a family in this country should be aided and assisted and given the benefit of our most favorable clause. We wish to add that there is a great shortage of common labor, not only in the mining district of our community here, but throughout the Nation, and this common labor we believe is a class which does not compete, but which adds and benefits other classes, because it is the foundation of the products from the farm, from the mines, forest, highways, railroads, and cities. If the prosperity of our nation is to continue for the coming few years, the wealth from the farms upheld, the exports maintained, we need a larger element of desirable common labor, which is not at this time to be found in sufficient quantities in this country. We believe a revision of the laws along these lines would benefit not only this Nation but the nations from which these immigrants come. With highest personal regards, we remain, WM. DUFFNEY, Secretary. RESOLUTION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE VILLAGE OF HOUGHTON. Whereas it appears to the Association of Commerce of the village of Houghton that the Committee on Immigration of the United States Congress now in session at Washington will hold a hearing on January 3 and 4 next to consider amendments to the present immigration law with the view of permitting entrance into this country of a larger number of common laborers of desirable type: Therefore be it Resolved by this association of commerce, That we petition this committee of Congress to amend the immigration law so as to permit entrance into this country of a larger number of common laborers of the desirable class, men who desire to work in the mines of this district and who will become settlers and residents of this district with their wives and families, and in connection therewith and in furtherance of that end provide regulations and means of the agencies of our Government to examine immigrants in foreign countries and aid and encourage their coming into this country; also to give to common labor of a desirable class, namely, such labor who have good intentions and credentials of becoming bona fide residents of this country and desire to take up work in the mines, farms, and industries where needed, the same rights and privileges of entrance into this country as are now accorded to skilled labor and professional labor. The number of men employed by the copper-mining companies, 1914, in this district of Houghton, Keweenaw. and Ontonagon Counties was approximately 15,000; to-day it is approximately 5,000 men. The labor shortage in the past two years has caused many of the copper mines of this county to close down because the small output made the cost prohibitive. If these mines are to run at full capacity this district will require 10,000 additional men; and be it further Resolved, That we instruct our Congressman from this district, Hon. W. Frank James, and our United States Senators, Hon. Charles E. Townsend and Hon. James Couzens, to use all lawful means to the securing of legislation along the lines indicated in this resolution; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to our accredited representatives in the United States Congress. I hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of a resolution duly passed by the directors of the Association of Commerce of the village of Houghton, Houghton County, Mich., held on the 30th day of December, A. D. 1922. WM. DUFFNEY, Secretary Houghton Association of Commerce. Approved: JAMES R. DEE, STATEMENT REGARDING THE NEED OF THE COPPER MINES OF MICHIGAN FOR UNDERGROUND MEN, AND A SUGGESTION OF A SLIGHT AMENDMENT TO THE PRESENT IMMIGRATION LAW WHICH WILL SET FREE THE MACHINERY THAT WILL ENABLE THE SELECTION OF THE TYPE OF IMMIGRANT NEEDED. Hon. ALBERT JOHNSON, WASHINGTON, D. C., January 10, 1923. Chairman Immigration Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The Michigan copper mines require 5,000 men for underground work. Ninety-eight per cent of the underground men now working are of foreign birth, and this percentage has existed for 40 years and upward. The American born will not accept this work. Very few of the children of the foreign-born parents will accept this work, particularly when they have been educated and passed through our schools. To-day the cities offer jobs more attractive for the American-born citizen and he will not work underground. This is not a sentiment; it is a condition. The classes of immigrants who have come over to this country voluntarily and obtained admission since 1914 have not sought the copper mines and work underground. There is little hope that the classes of immigrants who come over to this country voluntarily, namely, hucksters, fruit vendors, candy-kitchen keepers, and professional men, will ever seek jobs underground in the mines. These classes are of little value to the copper-mining industry. That industry needs selected men from districts where men are accustomed to work in mines in the old country who would voluntarily seek work underground in mines in the United States. The copper industry does not want or require so-called cheap labor at low wages, but high-grade men of a type that will become good American citizens; also of a type of men who are willing, satisfied, and content to work underground. Such men seeking permanent residence in this country with their families become home owners and dwellers, become our very best citizens, as the records of the copper-mining districts of Michigan will establish. The question is one of likes and dislikes; that is, the question is to admit into this country the particular kind of immigrant who likes mining work. HOW CAN IMMIGRANTS BE SELECTED AND CHOSEN FOR ADMISSION WHO DESIRE EMPLOYMENT UNDERGROUND IN THE COPPER MINE? Answer. Permit the friends, relatives, and employers to send money to assist in their passage over. This can be brought about by giving to this class of immigrants the same favored clause of the immigration law as is now granted to skilled and professional immigrants. Why not make use of an agency which will assist the Government in selecting the desirable classes of immigrants, and have them presented, so to speak, as candidates for admission in the same manner as members of a fraternal lodge bring in some friend of theirs for admission into that lodge. Why should the immigrant laws of the United States of America, the home of the free and brave, make lawyers, doctors, nurses, and domestics privileged classes, allowing them to make contracts in their country and receive money before they cross the ocean to enter the United States, and then, on the other hand, deny to a worthy and desirable workman, who may make the highest type of American citizen, the privilege which is accorded to his more fortunate brother? Such a provision in the laws as now exists is an unjust discrimination. Why not give to a limited number or per cent of unskilled or semiskilled labor the same opportunity and privilege as accorded to the favored few? PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The following two slight amendments will secure the desired result above indicated: (A) After the words "skilled labor," in the third proviso of section 3, add the words "and semiskilled labor," or omit the word "skilled" altogether, so that the proviso shall read as follows: "Provided further, That skilled labor and semiskilled labor (or omit " skilled" altogether), if otherwise admissible, may be imported, if labor of like kind can not be found in this country. The question of the necessity of importing skilled labor in any particular instance may be determined by the Secretary of Labor." etc. (using the words of the present statute). |