Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-01-20
Congress May y :
Postpone Action
Prepares Many Bills But Immi-
grafton is Likely TO Stay
Same For While q

factions in the present uprOar
over the immigration law will pro-
babIy he TO defer all action OF
aDy Kind 1T least until 1924,
III appeared here today. -. -.
Reset on one hand by group
Of interests which demands the
undoing Of the work Congress
felt necessary two years ago, and
On the other by a class which,
while restrictiOnist, begs for a
new kind of restriction. the in
nste conservatism of the body
will dictate continued intensive
study Of the problem and no ac-
,ian This session
For the present year, then, II
this course is followed, Industry
AUST struggle along with its Ia
lbor shortages as best it can and
.he race-yiewers must continue
10 view with alarm our present
food of 50 called undesirable
types" from Southern Europe,
Neither group has as much
cause for concern, these statistics
for last year would indicate.
Late statistics complied by the
Labor Department reveal a ces-
satiou of the exodus of laborers.
Whatever laborers enter IN the
Immigration flow will thus be a
gain to industry. Immigration Is
Increasing slightly from the north
ern European countries-they are
using up more Of their quotas,
though there is no correspond
ING decrease in the food from
the south.
Prospects for the flow this
YEAR are that out of the 1856,
9g5 Immigrants admissible, pos
s;bly 275,O00 will enter. In the
past fiscal year, 243,953 were adj
mitted. The cain will come FROM
che Northern European countries.
President Harding has recon-
mended to Congress the adoption
Of Z selective immigration law,
whereby immigrants would be
subjected to examination in for
eign ports before they embark
for this country. Secretary or
Labor Davis has prepared the
bill. and it will shortly be sub
mitted to Congress.
Chairman Albert Johnson Wash
ingtor. of the House Immigration
Committee has proposed a 1000
minimum plus 2 per cent re-
striction law, with the issuance of
consular certificates to authoriz-
ed immigrants at the ports OF
embarkatiOn.
This latter feature is to elimi-
nate the arrival at New York OF
inadmissable aliens and those IN
excess Of quotas. immigrants I'M
der this bill would have to come
to the United States on Ameri-
can ships, where possible.
Senator Reed. of Pennsylvania,
has introduced u bill in the Sen
ate To continue restriction on the
percentage basis, but ne pro-
poses to raise the percentage to
) and change the basis Of popula-
ton TO that of 1890. The result
Of such n bill, if passed, would
be TO further restrict lmmlgra-
ton from Southern Europe and
enable more immigrants from
Northern European countries to
enter. for in 1890 the great flood
of immigration from the Medi-
terranean countries had hardly
started.
Rep. Rainey, Alabama, has in
troduced similar bill in the
House, making 1890 the popula-
zion basis, but reducing the quota
basis TO ? per cent. making 1t
probably the most drastic bill OF
It's kind before Congress, except
those proposing total exclusion.
Senator Ransdell. Of Louisiana
has proposed resolution design
ed to take care of the labor
shortage problems of the present
law. Ransdell would create a COM
mission of Senator's Ito investi-
gate immigration problems" with
view 70 relieving such short
ages by selecting as Immigrants
admissible under the present per-
icentage law, those who are bes,
suited for employment in The
fields of industry in which any
shortage exists"
A host of minor plans anC
schemes are on the docket TO,
/ Congressional consideration. bu,
il is considered unlikely thai
they will ever get beyond tn,
immigration committees of the
Two houses.