Evening star., 1924-02-22

There is no more complicated QueS-
tion confronting Congress than that
OF immigration restriction. There
are as many differing viewpoints upon
the subject as there are conflicting
interests plus diverse mental incli-
nations as to the rights Of humanity
to inherit the EARTH" and Of Amer
leans to safeguard their own in
heritance. There are today three dis
tinctive measures before Congress af-
fecting this question.
The Johnson bill has been under
consideration Of the House and has
been reported out farorably by the
committee On immigration. Its prin-
cipal feature-intended to divert the
preponderating quotas from southern
and eastern Europe to northern and
western countries as the source of
our immigrants-is questioned seri-
ously by the immigration committee
OF the Senate. The Johnson measure
will substitute the census OF 1890 for
the census of 1910 (the present
basis) and will admit from each ma
tionality zoo plus per cen. Of the
respective nationalities as found in
the United States in 1890.
The object of going back to Il CEN
sus thirty-four years old for the
basis is to find a means of Icsscning
the migration from southern Europe.
1t would cut the quota from italy, for
example. from the present os.o3s
down to 1858. 1t would increase the
quota of Germany from the present
45.21o to 50,3a9. Aside from Great
Britain's quota. the only country
which would have an increased quota
Is Germany. Great Britain and Ire
land would be allowed G..65S in place
of 5l,162.
The total effect of the Johnson law
would be to cut the permissible
quotas from 1903 down 10 16s.os3.
X = * 4:
Taking the Johnson bill as u foun-
dation, the Senate immigration COM
mittee. through Senator Reed of
Pennsylvania. presented a bill last
Monday which introduces some de-
cidedly novel features into the basis
for the quotas.
Instead Of going back arbitrarily to
the 1890 census to find 4 basis which
will discriminate against nations non
grata. 1t takes the censuses OF 1910
purpose of discovering not what ma
tionality is supposed to be most de-
sfrable. but what nationality already
by its record in the Urited States
proves to be most readily assimila bl g
into Americanization. No previous at
tempt has ever been made 20 -ccog-
nize assimilation into our citizenship
as test for encouraging future addi-
ttonS of the most readily American
lied
L.
The annual quota OF any nation
ali;y shall be 200, and in addition
thereto l pcrcenium Of the number
Of foreign born individuals OF such
nationality resident in continental
United States as determined by the
United States census Of 1910. When
1t shall have appeared by the census
OF 1920 thar more than one-half Of
the foreign-born individuals OF any
nationality then resident in continen-
tai United States had become natu-
rallied citizens Of the United states
there shall be added to the quota Of
mat nationality an additional per-
centum Of the number OF foreign born
individuals of such nationality resi-
dent In continental United States as
There can never he compulsory
naturalization of aliens 1t is in
disputable, however. that alien colo
MES in the United states speaking
foreign tongues. maintaining foreign
community interests, are un-American
and a, menace 10 the republic
The plan is intended as an incen-
tive to immigrants to become Amer
icaniZed and to reward such national
tiles in proportion as they show an
appreciation of American citizenship.