New-York tribune., 1921-01-05
bews Oppose
\ Bill to Halt
Aliens a Yea1.
Lo6icials of New York So
cieties Ridicule Reported
Menace; Say Johnson's
Figures Are Exaggerated
wallis Testifies To-day
FIGHT Before Senate Com
mittee Expected to Make
I Passage of Act Difficult

oSS
rr.-, rAs Tribuss's Washington Burecu
1 WASHINGTON. Jan. 4.--lntes Sc op-
1.,s;ton to the Johnson bill, which
f,,sld prohibit the entrance of aliens
;,to this country for year, featured
ia hearing on this measure by the SEN
=. immigration Committee to-day.
The general situation as to the bill
..msirs unchanged Senator'S Colt. OF
| rhode Island, chairman Of the commit
40. Dillingham;. Of Vermont, and Ster-
snr Of South DAKOTA, by their interrog-
a,ories, indicated their opposition to
plans fer shutting out immigrants in
me drastic fashion proposed by the
h ohuson measure. While the commit
tee may report the bill. it is certain
! 10 lead TO protracted Senate debate,
which will make its passage before
March 4 difficult.
Louis Marshall, of New York. repre-
renting the Amerlcan-J Jewish Council
snd the Anti-Pogrom Society. and John
h. Bernstein, Of New York, president OF
| the Hebrew Sheltering Aid Society,
we're the chief opponents to make state
nents to the committee to-day.
Tomorrow Frank A. Wallis. Immi-
grafton Commissioner. OF New York.
: will appear. The committee will decide
i then how much longer the hearings
shall continue. The present plan is to
' end hearings next week.
Mr.. Marshall spoke before the COM
nit.ee at length, and was emphatic in
denying there was any warrant for the
talk Of menace"
SCOTS at Immigration "Menace"
"Iet's see about this food" said Mr.
Marshall. Nobody saw any evidence of
b menace in the immigration before the
war. From August 1, 1914, to July /.
1890 nearly SIX years, there was practi-
1eay no immigration. That is, the emil
grafton exceeded the immigration"
He dwelt on the usefulness of the i'm
migrants in furnishing this country
needed man power through the war.
During all that time" he said, "this
menace that's talked about didn't exist.
From June so. 1920, to December /,
fs2O, the total immigration was 472 600
@knd the total emigration 1S1 900. leav-
| ,
that same ratio were preserved for a
year less than 100000 would enter in a
years time.
. What menace is that? What is the
occasion for this hasty legislation j.?
Dies the fact that in these five months
The excess Of immigrants over emf
sssnts was but 291 GOO justify it? Is
u. Justification for insulting the men of
ta
!eorporated into our country?"
Senator Colt inquired whether he
saw anything in the conditions in
Europe warranting the idea that there
would be great food of migration.
pr. Marshall said he did not
Sees Labor Demand in Europe
There is.a safety valve in the limi-
tation OF transportation facilities" Mr..
MARSHALL said. "AIoreover. 1t issquite
expensive, and the fact that the funds
are not forthcoming tends to hold back
migration to this country. The eco
nomic requirements of European coun-
tries are such as to call for a reopen
Ing OF their industries"
Mr.. Marshall said when the indus
tines reopened there would be q great
demand for men in Europe.
Senator Colt asked the witness about
the millions which it was predicted
would come from Italy. Poland and
d.ner European countries; whether
there was anything in the nature Of
general movement to this country.
/ i do not know Of any movement Of
that character, except in so far as
there are families in that state of d.
|Vlslon wherein they want to be re-
fnited. Mr.. Marshall said.
Mr.. Marshall declared untrue reports
that efforts were being made in the
pew European countries created on the
principle OF self-determination 10 in
Euee mlnorities to migrate to America.
Mr.. Marshall upheld the loyalty Of
I'ae immi grants to this country and
CAst OF the foreign language press.
ar. Bernstein denied tne society was
Iesganzed for the purpose OF stimulat-
ing immigration. He assaied the John
son report and asserted its figures
I"ere greatly exaggerated. He declared
.hss whereas 1t said there were in Oc-
'ooes $4,000 Jewish arrivals, the So
fEety by actual count knew there were
lcaly about $4,000, and it got the in
-''matlon from the manifests Of the
.sesmShips. He also gave figures for
i.oe last few months and said 50 per
Iesn' o. Jewish arrivals were women
Isna children, VINO were com alg to join
'nsr husbands or fathers
AI. Bernstein ridiculed the reports
IL ho.oes in the central European
Egunsries seeking passports He said at
"slssw, Danzig and other places he
lso Visited last summer the same peo-
PIE STOOD in line for passports for six
FseEs, because the facilities for viseing
tss'pors at American consulates were
:oo limited.
las witness said the Polish govern
Isa' 'dM aot seek 20 force the Jews