Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-11
The HQSkin Letter o. r : ass2x
THE THREE PER CENT LAW.

Washington, d. c., May 8.-Thl
United States 10 operating under ar
immigration law restricting the mum
Der of immigrants from any country to
3 per cent Of the number Of persons Of
that nationality settled in this country
at the time OF the census of 1910.
This law was essential following the
end of the war. With Europe laid
waste, poor, its money greatly depre-
ciated, with little outlook of hope for
millions of the poorer classes, it was
known that these millions would look
to the western world-the United
States first-as a land of promise
where they might live and work. But
in such cases, American citizens had to
be looked after first. Foreseeing the
end of the war boom to business and
manufacturing, the congress decided to
protect American labor from cheap
foreign competition.
A law of this sort naturally hits hard
IN individual cases. Excluded aliens,
or those ordered deported, may appeal
from these orders In many cases, the
appeal being made to the labor depart
ment. Until comparatively lately, these
appeals have gone to the secretary Of
labor, Mr.. J. J. Davis, or the assistant
secretary Of labor, MI. e. ]. Henning.
So great has this volume of business
become. however, that a board Of re-
view has been appointed, which passes
upon all such cases, recommending the
final action which still rests in the
hands Of the executive heads Of the
labor department.
This board is faced wit ha tremen-
dously hard and unpleasant set of
duties. Practically every appealed alien
case has behind it a dramatic, pathetic,
OF tragic phase which cannot help but
make an appeal to anyone whose heart
Is not Of granite. But the sworn duty
OF this board of review is protection of
the United States and its citizens. As
in any court of law, the single case be-
fore the board ia not the sole consider
alton. If a point or two is stretched
here and there, while it may be and
usually is the humane course to take,
it establishes a precedent which law
yers would not be slow to use to the
utmost limits in future similar cases
before the board. The board is faced
with the necessity of appearing, on &C.
~casion, to be cold and heartless toward
alien individual or family, nut the
underlying reason is for the benefit Of
hundreds Of thousands of other indi-
and families.
Propaganda Is Used
The present immigration statute
has been the target of propaganda by
racial interests which have
been hard hit by it. Also, many of the
cases of appeal are conducted by law
yers. So often lawyers will make a
appeal to allow some
alien, ordered deported, to remain in
country. The order has been is
sued because the alien, who may be
one Of a family Of perfectly acceptable
immigrants, 10 defective mentally or
physically. It is easy for a lawyer to
dwell upon the u~ndisputed fact that the
million odd people Of the
United States are not going to be
by admitting this n manor
boy or girl-and thus prevent misery
and heartache in breaking up a family. !
1t would be the easy way and the |
way dictated by considerations of hui
mainly and compassion to let this one |
remain. Also, it falls within the |
discretionary powers the law gives to |
The secretary of labor. But one de-
rislon OF this sort would bring down
upon the heads Of the members of the
ar cases, with the reproachful fingers
the lawyers in the cases pointing to |
his single decision as a precedent
which should be followed.
Unfortunately for the peace of mind
# the labor department and the board
If review, not all of the steamship |
companies have tried hard to assist in
arriving out the law. Aliens in excess
" national quotas have been brought
n. These poor people must be sent
The discretionary powers of the
abor department do not extend So far
hat utter disregard of the law NAV be
included. The offending steamship