The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-04-18
Law
by
.Covernn1e,..;s,
- .~I
Labor Problems 4 - =
Grafton at C. ~ .ng
secre' 81 yis
Makes /. ori.
Oppose Opening Gates

Washington. April 17.-Declaration
of +. II. Cary, chairman of the board
of the United States Steel corpora
ton, that the restrictive immgra-
ton law had made imminent serious
labor shortage, served today 10 draw
the attention Of government officials
TO the immigration question and the
labor situation.
Both immigration and labor condi.
tions We're touched upon by the cab
met at its meeting. and secretary
Davis presenting report which it
was said later at the White House
convinced President Harding that
Judge Gary was quite correct in his
statement that labor shortage was
threatened.
The portion of Judge Gary's state
ment. as made at the annual meet
ing yesterday in Hoboken, y. j., Of
the United States Steel Corporations
stockholders, criticing the restrictive
immigration law and blaming it for
the threatened labor scarcity. how
ever. brought replies from several
quarters.
Replies to Gary.
Chairman Johnson Of the house i'm
migration committee in formal
statement declared there should be
no relaxation In the restriction OF
the act and ascribed criticism Of the
statute by large corporations TO de-
sire for cheaper labor. Senator Hef-
lin. democrat, Alabama. also issued
statement 10 reply To Mr. Gary. de-
clarine that congress. instead Of lib
eralizing the present immigration
laws. should at its next session
strengthen them.
Secretary Davis report was written
prior TO Judge Gary's address. but
declared throwing open the gates at
a time Of prosperity in order to flood
the country with workers and non
workers would serve to bring prosper
ity to an end" Mr.. Davis added that
unemployment now had been reduced
TO a minimum and that wages were
rising. supplementing his report with
verbal statement to the president
that a shortage of workers already
existed in some OF the skilled trades.
particularly The puddlers in the steel
mills.
Under these conditions, with labor
everywhere in demand" the labor
secretarys report said. it is ineyita-
bic that there should be agitation
among some for the lifting of immi-
grafton restlictiurs.9
Two Feafurex Urged
The report presented two features
Of legislation which Mr.. Davis hopes
to have enacted by the next congress
TO supplement the present law fixing
immigration quotas for the various
countries.
Il propose that We establish strict
bur just tests OF physical and mental
health and that we make those tests
under the numerical restriction now
placed on immigration" said Mr.. Da-
yis.
Il would have those tests made
abroad. in order that the applicant
for admission may not be led 10 spend
tho savings of a lifetime on long
sea voyage to find out whether he can
enter the United States. ] feel that
nothing would strengthen our whole
immigration policy so much rs this
move. and one result would be to end
the neart-rending scenes which every
day confront our agents at Ellis
Island and other ports OF entry"
In furtherance of this proposal for
selective immigration. Mr.. Davis in.
formed the president that inquiry was
now being made by his department
in the possibility OF moving the whole
examining machinery OF the immi-
grafton bureau TO foreign countries
under present laws.
The other proposal outlined ir the
report concerned enrolment OF tho
admitted aliens which Mr.. Davis has
previously advocated az a means OF
helping the immigrant to acquire the
qualifications to he an American.