The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-04-03
HUSBAND GIVES
ENDORSEMENT OF
IMMIGRATION LAW
Commissioner General
Gives Interesting Re-
view of Problem

|
Commissioner General Walter
Husband that the presnt immigra-
ton law which bears the name of
Vermont's senior Senator is both
workable and effective In an
official statement now before the
Senate immigration Committee
the head of the Immigration Bu-
reau places his stamp of APPROX
al on the Dillingham; Three Per
Cent law, and details how the
statute has operated, often amid
trying conditions.
Mr.. Husband adds that the law
"went into effect on short notice,
at a time when immigration from
Europe was rapidly approaching
pre-war proportions, and in view
of the many interests and infu-
ences involved it has seemingly
accomplished it's purpose" and he
further asserts that "for the time
being at least it is operating
smoothly"
In his statement to the Commit
tee, which was requested by the
Chairman, Senator lie Baron B..
Colt, of Rhode Island, the Com
missioner General reviews briefly
the main provisions of the bill
and then proceeds to detail how
the law began its operations and
under what conditions.
"The act under consideration"
he explains, twas approved May
10, 1921, and became effective
Jun 8, Is days later. Owing to
the creation of new countries in
Europe and Asiatic Turkey sub
! sequent to 1910, and the numer-
| Gus changes made in the boundar-
les of existing countries as a re-
suit of the World War, the task
of allotting quotas to such coun-
tries was a difficult one and it
was not completed until June 2,
the day before the law went into
operation. There was separate
quota for the 2S remaining days of
June which was in no way related
to the annual OF monthly quotas
for the fiscal year beginning July
/, and this resulted in some con-
fusion and misunderstanding.
NATURALLY enough there were
in Europe large numbers of in
tending immigrants who were
making every effort to reach the
United States before a restrictive
law became operative, and, just as
naturally, the transportation in
| terests desired to do as much
business as was possible while
| the gates were still wide open.
immigration from Europe alone in
the month of May had reached a
total of nearly $4,000 and the new
law suddenly reduced the number
who might be admitted from that
source between June 3 and July /
to about 27,000. Moreover, a
considerable part of this quota
was allotted to countries from
which comparatively few immi-
grants had come during May or at
any time since the end of the
war.
During the 28 days-June 8 to
June 30-a total of 11,742 aliens
in excess of the allotted quotas
applied for admission at United
States ports. Of course, this
might have been avoided had
transportation companies used
greater care, but in view of the
laws severe restriction of a move
ment which was already underway
in Europe, it is perhaps not to be
wondered at that considerabl Bile
excess from some countries did
reach American ports. A large
majority of this excess came with
in a few days after the law went
into effect, and as each individual
was entitled to a full examination
under the general immigration law
/ including an appeal to the Sccre-
tary of Labor, the situation was
clearly very difficult one. The
immigrants themselves could
hardly be blamed for the predica-
ment they were in and Secretary
Davis took the only logical and
! humane course when, on June 10,
he directed that the waiting thous-
ands who were otherwise admis-
| SlDle ShOulu De temporarily ADMIT
ted until October / and charged
against the quota for that month.
As a result 11,741 of the excess
arrivals in June were so admitted,
and in that month only one i'm
migrant was turned back solely
because he came in excess of "a
quota"
Mr.. Husband at this point calls
to his aid d statistical table show
ing the number of aliens admis-
sible from the various countries
during the present fiscal year, the
number who were admitted either
permanently or temporarily up to
and including February %, and
the per cent of such totals admit
ted by countries.
Celebrating on this table, he
(COntin1lnA IN naCa al