The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
WOULD MAKE
IMMIGRATION
LAWS TIGHTER
Exclusion of Japanese and
Reduction of European Quo
taS Presented in Meas
ure Framed by House
Committee

reduction in the percentage of
aliens admissible from Europe
would be provided for by sections of
proposed permanent immigration
restriction act approved today by
the House immigration committee.
Completion of the measure within
L day or two and a prompt report
TO the House Is the committees
plan.
Japanese exclusion would be
made possible, 1t was explained,
under d general provision OF the bill
winch SETS forth that AN immigrant
not eligible to citizenship shall not
/ be admitted 10 the United States"
I 1 o meet treaty stlpulatlons, eXcep-
, tons would be made of ministers of
the gospel, college professors, men,
bers OF any learned profession"
ana bona flde students.
Explaining the section of the bill
which would provide for the eX-
cluslon of japanese immigrants,
! Chairman Johnson said it was the
purpose simply to translate into law
the terms of the "gentlemen's
agreement" between the United
States and Japan affecting immi-
grafton from the latter country. In
the past the executive branch has
objected to attempts to deal with
this question in general legislation
by Congress, but thus far there has
been no announcement of objection
in the present instance.
BDsed ON 1890 Census.
As affecting Europe and the Near
East the bill would reduce the quotas
of immigrants from any one country
in any one year to 400 and in addi-
ton 2 per cent of the number of for
eign born individuals of such ma
tionality resident in the United States
as determined by the 1890 census.
The present restriction act, which
this bill would replace and which
expires by limitation June 80, 1924,
placed the quotas at ) per cent based
on the census of 1910.
The number of immigrants who
would be admissible in any one year
under this provision is estimated at
1S6,137, as against the 35S,S37 an
nually under the present act, but ae-
tually the 1S6,437 total probably
the operation OF general provisions
designed to avoid division of families.
Thus there would be admitted ire
spective OF fixed quotas the family
and close relatives OF any. foreign
born citizen of the United Sttaes and
the immedit Ute family of any alien
resident in this country for two years
and who a year previously had Tor
mally declared his intention to be-
come a citizen.
Increases Dcsirabies.
The purpose of going back to 1880
as basis for quotas, ii was eX-
planned was to increase the proper
ton of aliens admissible from north
ern and western Europe anu to de-
crease the proportion from southern
and eastern Europe. II was about
1880 that the decrease in immigrants
from the northern and western coun-
tries set in and the increases in the
movement and the increase in the
southern and western countries
began,
The quotas for Great Britain, Bel
GUM, France and the Scandinavian
countries would be Increased, while
those from Poland, Russian and the
Balkan states would be decreased I'M
der the proposed measure.
Like the present temporary restrlc-
ton law, the proposed act would not
operate against immigration from
Canada, New Foundland, Mexico,
Cuba and Central and South America
providing immigrants seeking ad-
mission to the United States had been
resident in these countries for pc
riod of five years.
steamers Held Responsible.
United States would be required TO
obtain certificates of entry from
American consuls. These certificates
would be limited to the quotas Tor
each country. Steamship companies
TRANSPORTING immigrants without
such certificates would be subject TO
fines and. in addition, would be re-
oufred to refund the passage money
of such immigrants.
In each of the first 10 calendar
months of any fiscal year there
would be issued no more certificates
than 10 per cent of the quota for
each nationality. During the IL
months there could be issued 80 per
cent of the remainder, If any, of the
quota for each nationality, and IN
the twelfth month there could be is
sued the remainder, If any, of such
quota
Opposition in the committee to pro-
visions of the bill centered largely
around the 2 per cent and 1880 CEN
sus provisions and these are expected
to prove the fighting points in the
House 1t was reported thta propo-
nents of these provisions won by
margin of nearly two votes to one
in the committee.
Chairman johnson said the new
restriction bin might be substituted
In the House for the measure passed
today by the Senate proposing ad-
mission of $4,000 Armenian orphans.
This legislative procedure Is consid-
cred in the hope of the passage OF
the restriction bill at this session OF
Congress Under this agreement, IL
was explained. the measure would
come before the Senate az confer
ence report with fair chance of final
action there, whereas II 1t reached
the Senate as new Legislation 1t prob
ably could not be reached on the cal
endar because of prospective Jam
between now and March 4.