The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-01-21
CHAIRMAN BURNETT EXPLAINS
Secretary Nagel Suggested Clause to
Keep Europe's Criminals Out

Keep Europe's Criminals Out
Washington, Jan. 19.-The confer
ence report on the proposed new i'm
migration law will be called up in the
Senate tomorrow by Senator Lodge.
The opposition to the measure, which
was ridden over rough-shod in the
House of Representative on Friday,
when that body adopted the confer
ence report by a two-to-one majority
will shift its activities to the Senate.
The struggle will center around the
clause providing for the exclusion, af-
ter four months from the approval of
the lay. Of all persons unable to meet
the literacy test.
Another feature of the bill which
is expected to attract attention Is the
change made in the existing law with
respect to the general exclusion Sec
ton. The conference draft of the
bill broadens the clause relating to
criminals so as to include all per-
sons who have committed felony or
crime or an offense or misdemeaior
involving moral turpitude, irrespec-
tive of whether they have been con-
victed or admit the commission of
the offense. The language of the
conference bill, in this respect is:
That the following classes of aliens
shall be excluded from admission into
the United States: Persons who
have committed a felony or other
crime or misdemeanor involving NOR
al turpitude; citizens or subjects of
any country that issues penal certifi-
Gates or certificates of character who
do not produce to the immigration Of
ficials such a certificate
Chairman Burnett of the House
Committee on immigration, who had
charge of the conference bill when 1t
was adopted by the House last Fri
day, said to the correspondent of The
Times tonight that there could be no
just objection TO this provision of the
pending measure.
There is no Joker in that clause"
said Mr.. Burnett, but it has come to
my notice that some persons have
been trying to make il appear SO.
The whole purpose Of the require
ment of the production of penal GER
tificates or certificates of character
is to shut out aliens who may have a
criminal record coming from those
countries which issue certificates and
make it possible for the immigrant to
easily obtain such certificates.
Italy is such country. The
italian Government issues penal Ger
tifcates and likewise issues, certifi-
Gates of character. II is possible for
every immigrant from Italy to obtain
one or the other of these certificates.
Persons who have been imprisoned
in Italy are given penal certificates
and the Italian Government requires
them to be presented. That Govern
ment also issues certificates of char
acter All an Italian immigrant must
grant has a penal certificate he will
good character from the Italian Gov
eminent, and, If he has no penal rec
ord, such a certificate can be obtain
ed
This clause does not apply to i'm
migrants from any country which
does not issue penal certificates or
certificates of character. II is Ger.
| tainly not aimed at the immigrants
from Russia. | am informed, besides
that no such certificates are issued
| by the Russian Government. There
fore. immigrants from Russia would
not be required to produce such Ger
| ticates. But, if the immigrant comes
from a country which does issue such
| a certificate all the alien has to do is
to produe certificate of character
| from his Government II the immi
grant has a penal certifcat he will
not be admitted. That is all there
is to this provision. and there is nc
| joker about it.
The provision as not in the I'm
migration bill as it originally passed
the Senate, but was put into the bill
! in conference at the request of Sec
retaiy Nagel of the Department OF
| Commerce and Labor, and the record
of Mr. Nagel in immigration cases
in one which | believe no just mar
would think of attacking Severa
years ago the Bureau of Immigration
of the Department of Commerce anC
Labor prepared a model immigra
ton bill embodying its views as tC
proposed legislation. This clause /.
taken verbatim from that bill anC
appeared in the draft of that mode
law as printed in the annual report Of
the Commissioner General of lmmi
grafton in 1910 and 1911. 1t is also
recommended by the department"