Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
Under conditions of current unemployment it is obvious that persons coming
to the United States seeking work would likely become either a direct or
indirect public charge. As a temporary measure the officers issuing visas
to immigrants have been, in pursuance of the law, instructed to refuse
visas to applicants likely to fall into this class. As a result the visas
issued have decreased from an average of about 24,000 per month prior to
restrictions to a rate of about 7,000 during the last month. These are
largely preferred persons under the law. Visas from Mexico are about 250
per month compared to about 4,000 previous to restrictions. The whole
subject requires exhaustive reconsideration.
DEPORTATION OF ALIEN CRIMINALS
I urge the strengthening of our deportation laws so as to more fully rid
ourselves of criminal aliens. Furthermore, thousands of persons have
entered the country in violation of the immigration laws. The very method
of their entry indicates their objectionable character, and our law-abiding
foreign-born residents suffer in consequence. I recommend that the Congress
provide methods of strengthening the Government to correct this abuse.
POST OFFICE
Due to deferment of Government building over many years, previous
administrations had been compelled to enter upon types of leases for
secondary facilities in large cities, some of which were objectionable as
representing too high a return upon the value of the property. To prevent
the occasion for further uneconomic leasing I recommend that the Congress
authorize the building by the Government of its own facilities.
VETERANS
The Nation has generously expanded its care for veterans. The consolidation
of all veterans' activities into the Veterans' Administration has produced
substantial administrative economies. The consolidation also brings
emphasis to the inequalities in service and allowances. The whole subject
is under study by the administrator, and I recommend it should also be
examined by the committees of the Congress.
SOCIAL SERVICE
I urge further consideration by the Congress of the recommendations I made
a year ago looking to the development through temporary Federal aid of
adequate State and local services for the health of children and the
further stamping out of communicable disease, particularly in the rural
sections. The advance of scientific discovery, methods, and social thought
imposes a new vision in these matters. The drain upon the Federal Treasury
is comparatively small. The results both economic and moral are of the
utmost importance.
GENERAL
It is my belief that after the passing of this depression, when we can
examine it in retrospect, we shall need to consider a number of other
questions as to what action may be taken by the Government to remove
Possible governmental influences which make for instability and to better
organize mitigation of the effect of depression. It is as yet too soon to
constructively formulate such measures.
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