The New York herald., 1921-01-08
STUBBORN FIGHT IS
INDICATED NOW ON
IMMIGRATION BILL
Measure to Bar Aliens En-
tirely for One Year Has
Friends and Foes.
ALL WANT TO BE HEARD
Lists Will Include Wit
nesses as to Permanent
Legislation.
SIEGEL CHIEF OPPONENT
Says Law Would Shut Out Men
Who Fought in War in
q. s. Armies.
ALL WANT TO BE HEARD
SIEGEL CHIEF OPPONENT

Special Despatch to THE NEW Yonx HmALp.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c., Jan. Z.
Prolongation Of the hearings on the
drastic one year immigration restric-
tion bill for an indefinite period has
been decided on by the Senate Com
mittee on Immigration. Evidences Of
opposition to the measure are accumu-
lating In the record Of testimony taken
thus far. this being increased notably
to-day by the statement of Repre-
sentative Siegel IN. ". author of the
minority report on the Johnson bill :
Additional witnesses will be heard
next week for three specified days up
to January IL. After that the ques-
ton of further hearings will be de-
termined by the nature and number
OF requests for hearing, and also by
the disposition Of the committee as to
the question of taking further testi-
mony.
Many Await Hearings.
The formal notice given out to-day by
Senator Colt CR. ~, chairman of the
committee of the hearing programme.
shows that a large number of organiza-
tions yet remain to be heard. including
Major ]. l.. Clarkson of the National
Competitive Industries; William 8. Ben
nett. Chicago, formerly a member Of
the immigration Commission; represent
ativcs of transportation concerns, in
cluding C. T. Mccoy, Western railroads
representative. and f. C. Hurley OF
New York, secretary of the National
immigration Council; Sidney e. Morse.
New York. secretary OF the Transat-
lantic Passenger Conference: Lawson
SANFORD. New York. and representa-
tives of the Cunard steamship line.
The witnesses are scheduled to be
heard not later than Wednesday OF
next week. They will be followed by
witnesses to be summoned to discuss
possible permanent immigration 'legis-
lation at this session. These witnesses
will include Harry A. Mcbride OF the
State Department, former United states
Consul at Warsaw. who recently has
been making An official study of immi-
grafton conditions in Europe; Miss
Frances Keller Of New York. former
immigration official. and DR. Albert
Shiels. New York. OF the Interraciai
Council.
Would Violate Agreements.
In outlining his opposition to the John
son bill to-day Representative Siegel
followed closely the argument he made
against II in his minority report, show
ing that the bill. II enforced. would shut
out aliens now in Europe with their
families here, who had come over under
present laws with right to reenter I;
would bar political refugees and also
world war, and who at the time they left
had the right to return. Furthermore,
he opposed the legislation on genera
principles. asserting there was no
menacing food OF immigration" turning
to the United States He strongly urged
amendment of the present regulation so
that an Assistant Secretary of Labor
could be stationed at Ellis Island to pass
upon appeals from deportation decisions
OF inspectors.
He showed that such an arrangement
would have prevented the necessity Of
Rear Admiral McCully making special
trip to the Labor Department at Wash
ington TO obtain CONSENT to bring In
seven or more Russian refugee children
he has adopted and that II would re-
lieve congestion at Ellis Island and be
an Improvement generally.
Mr.. Siegei opposed regulation of i'm
migration by a commission as we'll as
proposed inspection In European ports
He did urge strongly, however, that
medical inspection on the voyage should
be permitted. which steamship companies
now prevent.