The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-08-20
DILLINGHAM'S BILL
ON IMMIGRATION
Vermont Senator Proposes Radical
Change in immigration Policy Of
This Country.

Washington, Aug. 17.--Senator Dill
bingham. chairman of the former Uni
ted States immigration commission
and for several years chairman Of the
Senate committee on immigration
proposes a revolutionary change in
the immigration policy OF the United
States, including the Asiatic exclu-
sion laws, in a bill introduced August
Is, which provides that after July /,
1920, the number OF aliens OF any ma.
tionality who may be admitted to the
country as immigrants in any fiscal
year shall be limited to per cent OF
the number OF persons OF such nation
aiity already residing here The pro.
posed restriction, however, does not
apply to immigrants who are natives
of countries OF the Western Henri;
sphere.
Provision is made that near rela-
tives Of previously admitted immi-
grants, as well as members of speci-
fed professional classes, NAV be adj
mitted after the annual maximum Is
otherwise reached, ana also ina. tho
secretary OF labor may admit aliens
in excess Of the maximum number
when in his opinion such action is JUS
tifiable as a measure OF humanity
The bill provides for the repeal OF
all special laws directly or indirectly
relating to immigration from China,
Japan and other countries, including
the Chinese exclusive law, the pass
port provision which is the basis of
the celebrated 'gentlemen's agree
ment" now existing with Japan, and
the provision OF the immigration act
OF 1917 which denies admission tc
immigrants from certain portions OF
Asia and adjacent islands. But the
proposed measure, it is stated, will
10y no means open the door to an in
crease immigration from Asia for on
account OF me small number OF ASH
atics now in the country the number
OF immigrants admissible annually
under the per centum plan will not
exceed the average annual immigra-
ton from that source under the vari,
Gus exclusion laws, treaties and
agreements now IN FORCE.
Similar bills proposing to limit the
immigration of any nationality to 10
per cent OF the resident population OF
such nationality. instead or per
cent as in the present bill were intro
duced by Senator Dillingham; in 1913
and 1915, and while the plan attract
ed much favorable attention il was
not seriously considered in Congress.
which at that time was chiefly inter
ested in the literary test for immi-
grants which was subsequently enact
ed into law.
While it is believed that the per.
centum limit plan would prove OF
vast Importance in improving re-
lations with oriental countries, and
especially with Japan, by removing
any possible cause OF friction over
immigration discrimination, It is
stated that the primary purpose of
the Dillingham; bill Is to fix a definite
limit to the future immigration of la
borers, particularly from Southern
and Eastern Europe, thereby prevent
ing a possible if not probable repeti-
ton of the enormous influx of such
iihAii5idtiuu WHICH IItFdlltu pilot 10
the war and which the immigration
commission found to be highly detri-
mental to labor conditions in this
country
1T Is believed that the per centum
plan will establish the limit OF the
possible immigration of laborers from
Southern and Eastern Europe at a lit
tie more than one-third of the aver
age annual influx prior to the war,
but that it will not materially inter
fere with the RESUMPTION of the nor.
NAL flow from Northwestern Europe.
How the hitherto normal now OF I'M
migration from three principal sour
ces might be affected by the per
cent limit plan Is shown in the fol-
lowing comparison:
Northwestern Europe-Average an
nual immigration, 1904, 182,S50.
Number admissible under per CEN
tum limit plan, 337,602.
Southern and Eastern Europe and
Turkey In Asia-Average annual i'm
migration, 1904, 73S,6O7, Number
admissible under per centum plan,
56,469.
China, Japan and India-Average
annual immigration 1904, 1878.
Number admissible under 5 per CEN
tum plan, 1O,2S1.