396 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

do not habitually speak the English language, and contains more favorable provisions
 for the admission of those eligible to citizenship who habitually speak the
English language, giving a greater portion of the quotas to the English-speaking
people of Canada. * * #
The recent report of the President’s National Commission on Law Enforcement
and Observance commented upon conditions along the Canadian and Mexican
borders, where aliens surrepticiously enter the United States, and, we understand,
that the House Immigration Committtee will delve into the matter and secure
information that will provide for the working out of proposals made by President
Hoover for strenghtening the law-enforcement structure. It may be possible
that the committee will include some of the administration’s recommendations in:
the bill they report to the House.

I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at a banquet given
by the legaue on January 31 last in Fraunces Tavern, which, I was
told, is the oldest building on the oldest street in New York City,
and at which when a colonial inn Gen. George Washington often
stopped and in which he bade farewell and took final leave of his staff
of officers. At the banquet and meeting last Friday evening I met a
host of earnest patriotic Americans, interested whole-heartedly in
the welfare and future of our country. From several present that
evening I have received since my return to Washington many intelligent
 and interesting communications with reference to immigration
 conditions, particularly in New York City, one of which, with a
clipping inclosed, may be of interest to the committee, as evidencing
 the genuine, unselfish, and unprejudiced interest of those attending
 its meetings. The letter is from Mrs. Helen E. Martin,
president of the Bronx Civic Study Club, chairman of the Mount
Haven Tuberculosis Clinic, and head of the Women’s Committee of
Disabled American Veterans of the World War, and reads as follows:
Bronx, N. Y., February 1, 1930.
Mr. J. H. Parren,
Washington, D. C.,
My Dear Mg. Patten: I trust you arrived safely in Washington. We who
heard your very interesting talk at the Immigration Restriction League dinner,
held at Fraunces Tavern last evening, certainly appreciated your eoming to
New York and shall always be happy to welcome you.
Perhaps you recall I am writing” you at your suggestion, to recall to your
mind the following facts that can be proven.” The inclosed newspaper clippings
speak for themselves.
The New Hudson River bridge going up in the Bronx, linking New York
and New Jersey, is being put up by the Roebling Co. The steel part was sublet
to McClintie &amp; Marshal: they have finished. Now the Roebling Co. is putting
up the cable.
When the “Cat walk’ was finished, the skilled workmen were discharged.
It is not a union job, so the union scale of wages was never paid; $15.40 a day
is the union scale. Some of the men get $14.75 a day, the majority between
$8 and $10 a day. How many are citizens no one knows.
I am told in the steel and iron work are many who have entered this country
legally but who have never become citizens, Swedes are usually given the
preference, then the English (Britishers as they are called), the Italians, and
80 on.
There is, I am told, a law in New York State which says only citizens shall
be employed on public works but it is not enforced.
I am told that in the Ford plant in Newark, N. J., the employees are at least
50 per cent aliens. Men are not allowed to speak to the ‘‘bosses.” To ask
for work. They have to stand across the street from the plant. Then an
individual planked by two policemen crosses the street and pick men out here
and there in the crowd without asking about the man’s fitness. Every day
you can see from 600 to 1,000 men waiting for a sign to go to work; and that
is a conservative estimate. They stand all day long hoping for work.
The economic situation is reaily in a deplorable condition. These men are
willing to work, they have nothing to sell but their labor, and it isn't wanted
and there are those who are dependent unan them.