Abbeville progress., 1921-01-08
SENATE DELAYING
IMMIGRANT BILL
OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN TO
BAR ALIENS FOR A TIME.
SUDDENLY DEVELOPS.
FATE OF MEASURE IN DOUBT
Secretary Of Labor Wilson and Senator
Dillingham;, Both Have Schemes for
Restricting the Admission of For
eiqners to This Country.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.


at the opening OF the present congress
that In addition to the passage OF the
imperative appropriation measures
consideration and probably passage
would meet the proposal TO stem, il
not to dam, the present flood of for
eign immigration.
1t took the house of representatives
only short time 10 put through the
immigration bill. II places one
year embargo on incoming Immigrants
thus giving time, if the measure shall
pass the senate and receive executive
approval, 10 plan for future legiSla-
ton which shall keep immigration
within bounds.
When congress opened. it seemed
that the senate was equally keen with
/ the lower house 10 pass some meas
ure which temporarily, at least, would
keep the Immigrants out. No sooner,
+ however. had the house passed the
Johnson bill. practically placing IA ban
upon immigration for IA period of one
year. than opposition to the measure
developed in the senate.
No legislator in Washington appar-
emily knows just what is going to hap
pen to this bill. Meantime. Ellis Is
land is Overcrowded, and even if ey-
cry immigrant there is worthy of ad
mission it would take long time to
discover the fact.
Secretary Wilson's Proposal.
In his annual report, Secretary of
Labor Wilson advocates the establish
ment Of machinery overseas in coop
GRAFTON with foreign governments by
means of which aliens. before break
ing up their homes. may determine
whether they will be admitted To the
United States. Mr.. Wilson advises
legislative consideration of this pro-
poSal and of some others.
Senator Dillingham;. former chair
man of the committee on immigration.
has introduced a bill limiting foreign
immigration in any one year to
certain percentage of the aliens of
specified natiOnalities now in the Unit
ed States. He says that the immigra-
tion officials should inform the senate
how many natiOnalities from each for
eign country are included in those now
seeking admission. Then he says ac-
tual determination can be made wheth-
er or not the present rate of immigra-
ton is a menace TO American welfare.
-fisefe 6fe-eeftair senators who have
said they will oppose any embargo, for
no matter how short, on immigration.
There are others who are inclined to
favor an embargo, but they desire to
make amendments to the proposition
which would allow certain classes Of
persons to come in.
The question is an interesting one
from many standpoints because of the
various elements in American life
which either are seeking TO make more
drastic immigration laws. or are seek
ing to make them less drastic. II is
needless TO say that each element of |
the population is at work on the "suS- |
capabilities of the senate" and it may |
be that the pressure pro and con |
which is being brought TO bear, is |
responsible for the sudden condition of !
uncertainty which has affected the !
senatorial mind on this question of |
damming the food FROM the other
parts of the world.
Naval Holiday" Plan Revived
Senator William +. Borah of Idaho, |
through a joint resolution which he
has offered in the senate TO bring
about cut Of 30 per cent in navy
States. Great Britain and Japan. goes
back 10 an attpmpt which was made
IA long ago as 1913 by Great Britain
TO do something of the same kind
through what was known as naval
holiday"
Of course the resolution may he
simply in the nature of feeler. Some
persons have said that il is intended
to test the good faith of "Japan's de
sire for building holiday" Whatever
the intention is. the question of dimin-
iShing armaments is vital one in
nearly all countries today, and II is
question which is likely to rear its in
terrOgation mark i'm the congress Of
the United States for some time TO
come.
Back to the Old Question.
in view of what is happening in the
world. the present administration be-
lipvps that the program for ship build
ing which il has recommended should
be carried through. Seemingly CON
greSs-and perhaps The worlds TO
yet back To the old controversy about
The virtues of hi.: agiuamen'> M one
in congress believes apparently that
thp United States can cut its program
unless other nations shall follow suit
and so il seems likely that this coun-
try will continue to build ships ~ tong
as other nations or Great Britain and
japan. at any rate. continue their
building activities.
Great Britain ii 1913. only one wear
before the, great war broke out and
hraughf about situation which was
saved only by the British navy. sug-
eestpd through Winston Churchill