The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-11-22
JOHNSON
DRAF IS
BILL
House Chairman Explains De-
tails-Points Out Present
Abuses.
By JOHN T. LAMBERT,
Cosmopolitan News Service.

by JOdN i. LAM0Eh1,
Cosmopolitan News Service.
, Congressman Albert Johnson of
Washington said today that the
steamship race in human souls,
homes, and happiness will soon
be brought to an end.
Bad stories of broken hearts and
wrecked aspirations have been
brought to the attention of the in
coming Congress. Thousands OF
men and women have come from
foreign lands to freedoms shores,
happy with the prospect of future
in the land of liberty. Within
sight of the Statue of Liberty or
Bunker Hill they have been turned
back. Their quota was filled. The
steamship companies, seeking
few paltry dollars, had brought
them the 1900 miles from across
the Atlantic, never asking if they
would be allowed to land.
Attack by Congress.
Johnson. who is chairman OF the
Committee on immigration, says
only few thousand have thus
been affected. Congressman from
the seaports say the steamship lines
have lured many thousands. In
any event, johnson says Congress
will attack the situation.
Johnson says the plan is to
have American foreign consuls is
sue abroad the quota Of certificates
to the aliens entitled to come from
those countries. The Immigrant
would first have to fill out q cues
tionnaire. He win be reouired to
prove his acceptability as an emf
grant. He win have to prove that
he is neither q defective, delinquent
nor dependent.
The certificate will contain his
photo and fingerprints. Each one
win be numbered. His card viii
be good for him to come here
within six months. 1t will be used
again five years later when he
applies for citizenship. II he has
no card, the assumption will be
that he got in here surreptftiousIy.
Johnson says that method viii
limit the number Of Immigrants the
steamships can carry. If they ex.
coed, the quota, they can be pun
tshed. There then viii be no chance
or unhappy men and women being
turned back just when they are
ABOUT to step on Americas shore.
Seeking Better Immigrants.
The primary purpose Of johnson
and his colleagues, however, is not
TO, break down The alleged inhuman
traffic. In. humble people. Their
no fcrvx T. e.
flow Of people here from Italy
and Russia and The Balkan states,
to reduce immigration generally
and to have Americas new citi-
Zens some almost entirely in the
future from Great Britain. Ger.
many, Sweden, Norway and the
central and northern, states of Eu-
rope:
tion is to restrict it," said, John
son. THE quota last year was
about 100000. In spite of the re-
striction 672,40 immigrants came
here and guess 100000 more came
in urreptitiously.
1.-THE immigration laws kept out
3,5eO,000 who were standing on
foreign shores waiting to come. The
steamships had no business. They
would have built up this passen-
ger traffic. They would have
brought people here like pigs in
tie storage at $40 a head. The
quotas from every country were
filled in the first five months.
"Asylums and almhouses are
filled up with the dependent for
eigners. Four per cent of all the
taxes in all the States went TO:
their care and per cent for the
care Of their children. Male work
ers have not come. Last year So
to Join relatives here and in three
weeks they sent back money TO
bring other relatives. We believe
they bind themselves together to
work out this system OF payment.
Details of His Scheme.
Johnson's scheme is to allow the
yearly immigration of per cent
OF the alien born who were in this
country in 1890. The present rate
Is per cent on the figures of 1910.
Under the present system Russia
was entitled to 2I,613 last year; It
could send only 1892 under the
new Italy could send 42,057 under
the present system. 1t would be
limited to 1912 unuer the new. Pc.
land would be cut from $1,000 to
t.Go0. The same ratio of cutting
would apply to the Balkan terri
tory.
Great Britain would fare far bet
ter. however. 1t can now send IT,
600. it would be cut only to $4,000.
Germany, which now can send
81 COO, would be reduced to only
$1,000. The total would be reduced
from 257. 900 to 10000.
.JOhnaOu'S DIaO will ha oopnbofad
In the next Congress by a hard
kniffinnr