WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION 339

authority is further limjted to authorization only for a definite purpose and time,
and in no case in connection with any strike existing or impending. He will
further safeguard any importation by whatever rules and regulations his department
 deems necessary to assure the safe return within the specified time. It
seems to me that this right is fully protected against any possible abuse.
This justifies the exemption of laborers imported from the quota, illiteracy and
contract labor restrictions. Some of the reasons for asking this exemption are as
follows:
Quota: Since those imported are for a temporary period, their number should
not be restricted to any quota. The quota is meant for those seeking permanent
residence in this country. Should Canada be out on a quota this exemption becomes
 an actual necessity for our section of the country, even though the Canadian
 quota were a large one, due to the fact that under our present laws only 10
per cent of the yearly quota can come in any one month. Maine's requirements
are for seasonable employment, and therefore required during only a few months
of the year. ’
literacy: Many of the potato pickers and woodsmen from Canada and New
Foundland can not read and write, yet they are a fine lot of people, experienced
in their particular kinds of work. Most of them are hard-working, law-respecting
people, of fine character. This exemption in no way affects our present enttance
requirements, since they are coming in only for a temporary period, and are
returning when the purposes for which they came are accomplished.
Contract labor: The petitioner should have the right to select those whom he
imports since he is responsible for their return. As far as Canadian woodsmen are
concerned, he must have this right, since they will not come in any numbers
unless he does solicit them. The development of the paper industry in Canada
has been so great of late years that there is active competition for woodsmen
among their own industries. Canadian interests are desirous of preventing woodsmen
 coming into this country to work since our mills are their only competitors.
If our mills can be forced to close down, or to move to Canada, they can suceessfully
 dominate the newsprint industry and dictate to our publishers the price they
must pay for paper.
May I emphasize the fact that as far as the State of Maine is concerned, the
coming of Canadians is not forcing out any of our native laborers. All native
laborers available are being hired. Rather is the coming of the Canadians
aiding in giving labor to our natives, at the mills and elsewhere in the varied
industries dependent upon the continuance of the paper industry. This includes
merchants and banks, throughout the entire eastern section of the State.
Their coming is also a direct benefit to union labor, since only by first getting
out the pulp wood can the mills be run. With the newsprint industry now in
very critical competitive conditions, any further increase in the cost of pulp
wood must be at the expense of lowering costs of manufacture at the mills,
which in Maine are all unionized. Their coming is therefore a direct aid in the
continuance of union wages and living conditions at the mills. May I say that
the Canadians are not desired because their wages are lower. They receive
the same wages as the native laborers. It is because they are the only experienced
 woodsmen available in sufficient numbers to man the industry.
Immigration vise: The expense of going to an American consul to obt ain a
vise is so great that it makes prohibitive this class coming, either for potato pieking
 or woods work. This cost, together with the head tax, averages at least $25
per person. Such cost will prevent bringing them into Maine for the purposes
desired.
Please excuse the length of this letter. The importance to the State of Maine
of this legislation justifies it. I can not urge too strongly the acceptance of this
amendment and trust your committee will give it everv consideration.
Verv resnectfuilly and sincerelv.

James Q. GuLNac.
Mr. Gisson. Perhaps I should have stated that we have a real problem
 in northern New England now concerning the abandoned farms
and the maintenance of rural communities. In our State of Vermont
we have had thousands and thousands of acres withdrawn in the last
10 years. That is not due to lack of fertility, though. In that connection
 I will make a statement that will doubtless be surprising to
manv—namely, the Department of Agriculture reports that we can