The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-11-26
THE NEW IMMIGRATION LAW.

THE NEW IMMIGRATION LAW.
For the first time in the history of i'm
migration, the law which was enacted by
congress last spring enunciated the prin-
ciple that America has the right to deter
mine who shall come to this country to
enjoy its privileges and benefit from its
institutions. 1t was expected that GER
tain foreign countries and certain foreign
elements in America would complain of
the law on grounds of unjust discrimina-
ton. The law was designed in the inter-
ests of this country and its institutions,
however, and was, therefore, approved by
the American people. In the discussions
in congress over provisions of the law a
kept in the foreground-wha would be
best for America in the development of
its future citizenship and the safeguard
ing of its institutions.
Henry H. Curran, commissioner of
immigration at Ellis Island, in report
of conditions at that port, in recent ar
ticle in the Saturday Evening Post, gives
some interesting data indicating that the
operation of the immigration law, which
went into effect July l, has been whole
some and that there has been notable
Improvement in immigration conditions of
late. There is no longer rush of i'm
migrants to this country as under the
former quota law No longer do ships
hover about New York harbor to unload
their cargo of newcomers before quotas
of various countries are exhausted. The
regulations under the new law are order
ly and effective. That is largely the re-
suit of the system of selection at the
source, and the provisions of the law as
respects quotas. Under the new law the
immigrant is assured of admittance to
America before taking passage for this
country. There is no longer a lively
probability that the immigrant will be re-
puired to return to his country, or that
there is danger of separations in families,
useless burdens of expense and other
hardships, as under the old law.
Through much better physical and
medical examinations of immigrants the
problem of eliminating the unfit is
lightened.. In other words, the system of
immigration has been put on a much
more effective and scientific basis as
regards the interests of this country and
the protection of its institutions. The
new law has apparently worked out we'll
in improving the quality of those who
come to America, as we'll as IN reducing
the quantity of newcomers who are hard
to assimiliate. The indiscriminate ad-
mittance of immigrants who formerly
flocked to this country under the old law
constituted a serious menace to American
institutions and standards of citizenship,
and had a tendency to lower American
civic ideals. That was emphasized dur
ing the World War through the difficult
ties encountered in handling the various
alien elements that felt no interest IN
and gave no allegiance to the nation
Under the new immigration law the
average number of arrivals daily is about
one thousand, as compared with three
thousand in the pre-war period. The new
law has lHpIONSo AdoAA1J Va WI AA-A
migrants and has so operated as to re-
lieve the melting-pot from such pressure
as threatened its capacity. The changes
in the law promise to have marked in
fluence upon the future welfare of the
nation. Only such immigrants are need
ed in America as it's industries and re-
sources can utilize to the country's ad-
vantage, and even those must be of such
character as to be capable of becoming
good citizens. Trouble-makers are not
wanted, even though they be industrious
workers, combination which is not often
found. There are no industrial interests
in America which can be permanently
benefited if it be at the price of lowering
the nations standards of citizenship.