Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-08-09
Aliens Try
Tricks To
InyadeLaw

new OIhS <Au5s - hS liz"
law. which has been effective for
about two months. has certainly
jazxed up the business Of immigra-
tion. II provides that the number
Of immigrants from any one coun-
try be limited to 8 per cent CT that
rat.on's 1910 population. -ri i
has d joker which says sbt. only
one-fifth OF that 3 per cent shall
come In In any one month.
Now with country like Ger
many, which had about million
population in 1910 and hes sent
less than 500 here since the law
became effective last June, the
new restrictions don't matter very
much. But when 1t comes to
Greece, Poland, Turkey and some
OF the smaller nations. they are
eating up their quotas in record
time and hollering for more. The
United States is still TO them the
land Of freedom, and the report
that their coming here Is about TO
be curtailed has raised an awful
furor among intending immi
grants.
II the law merely stipulated
that when a nation had sent us
per cent OF its 1910 population no
more would be admitted there
would be no difficulty; the oser-
flow could simply be shipped back
home, with Uncle Sans regrets.
But this one-fifth Of 8 per cent
each month business has them all
guessing. Or did at first.
II didn't take the willy foreigner
long to catch onto the joker and !
turn the trick against us. Eight |
little nations used up their quotas
during July, which was this first
month. When it came around to-
ward the last of the month. did the
liners bringing immigrants TO this
county put in. learn they were too
late because the months quota
was full. and put back? They did
not.
Much to the disgust, even to .he
fury of some hundreds of Ameri-
can citizens who happened to be
passengers, eight big transatlantic
liners due late In July calmly de-
layed their arrival in New YORK
until the first Of the month. One
the Megali Hellas. a Greek liner.
with 1870 Americans aboard, arriv-
cd off Fire Island July 20 and, de-
spite the rage and hair tearing OF
the United States citizens, dropped
anchor and stayed there, just out
side the three-mile limit, until
August dawned.
Several other liners, one big one
from Italy among them, followed
suit. On the stroke OF midnight,
when July became August. there
was a grand rush across the line.
With footing of whistles the inn
bearing cavalcade swept
down upon Ellis Island. Their pas
sengers would have been In excess
Of the first months quota, but this
was August now, and that was an-
Dther matter.
II is reasonable TO suppose, I'm
migration officials say, that this
performance will be repeated
around September / and again the
lirst OF each month until at mid
night, November 80, the last
grand rush begins.
To cope with the situation It has
been decided by local officials that
III surplus immigrants shall be ad-
nitted upon personal bonds, IL
hey can find them. until October
!. Il Is hoped that a federal law,
omewhat less exciting. viii be en-
Ictcd before that time. It is be-
ieved that the trainers OF the pres
mt measure. which is temporary.
allied to foresee the jazzy effects 9
" their legislation. !
SO the immigrants who wais =
'ntside tho line until the new I
month begins are really wasting 6
heir time. because they could get 2
n. anyway. But they don't know l
t--so the game Is just as exciting y
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