Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-10
CONGRESS MAY GET
SACCO CASE ECHO
Efforts to Tighten Immigra-
ton Laws Are Ex-
peCted Here.

While the Federal Government
thus far, has no direct connection
! with the case of Nicola Sacco and
| Bartolemeo Nan2ett, the actions Of
extreme sympathizers with the con
iemned men make it certain that
repercussions will be felt when Con.
/ grass meets.
| In the opinion Of careful observers,
/ foreign demonstrations against the
/ United States on account of TINS case
and domestic hOmbings will serve To
strengthen the hands of those seeking
to tighten the laws regarding admit,
lance and residence of aliens and
naturalization.
That there will be a revival of the
| aedition and other wartime laws
which gave summary power into the
hands of the Federal authorities Is
doubted in Washington, although
some act of unusual violence might
create hysteria which would lead TO
some such result. 1t may he stated
that the present administration does
not desire extraordinary authority
conferred upon it.
Deportati0ns Costly.
Present laws are believed to be SuEii
cient to deal with radical extremists
ton already have pointed out that il
has not been possible TO enforce eN-
listing statutes The Department of
Labor has not even attempted to en-.
force fully the punitive provisions Of
the new immigration act, solely be-
cause its appropriation has been IN
sufficient. Its major attention has
been directed toward preventing
Illegal entry OF aliens.
Deportations are costly. They have
been running about 10000 a year in
the last few years. about half of the
number being due TO Illegal entry un-
der the 1924 immigration acts re
strictive provisions.
But Bureau of immigration officials
calculate there are 900 aliens in
penal and other observation-disclosures
asvlums and poor farms. 1t is fairly
certain that at least half of this mum.
Der are subject TO deportation. 1t
would cost approximately an average
Of SIS each to send them out of the
country, and it would require consid-
cradle time to weed out the deportable
from those entitled TO remain in this
country, for a board must sit in every
case to insure fairness.
The Department of Labor has
this wear than it had before. but ii
fell behind in its efforts in April, May
and June because the deficiency APP
preparation bill failed to pass Con-
sress and this measure contained an
item of 100000 urgently needed TO
carry on deportations in those months.
The last Congress was divided into
two camps regarding immigration,
one irving to amend the act with
effects which would have admitted
more aliens of certain classes, while
the other favored strengthening the
restrictive measures. Leaders of
these conflicting groups are members
of the present Congress, thus assuring
that the fight will be renewed.
Whatever may happen in regard to
the Sacco-V anzetti case itself, the feel
ing in Washington now is that the
demonstrations abroad have placed
high cards in the hands of those who
should be frightened and rigidly en-
forced
Border Protection.
This school of thought believes
ample appropriations Will he given the
Bureau to function to the
fullest. A House appropriation sub
committee at present Is IiSpSClthe>
border protection. 1t also is felt that
the movement to require aliens to
register and report their movements
while in this country will gain con-
siderable support and that it is likely
the naturalization requirements will
be made more rigid.
The mistaken idea persists among
the uniformed that the Federal
Government prosecuted Sacco ard
Nanzetti. Department of Justice
agents did investigate Sacco's actlvi-
ties as a radical. but the two men
were tried and convicted on a chaig e
of murder in Massachusetts State
courts, quite apart from their politico-
social beliefs and it was the defense,
not the State prosecution, which in
troduced in their trial the matter of
their radicalism. 1t has been denied
repeatedly that the Department of
Justice knows anything regarding
their guilt or innocence of the muir
der charge beyond what is common
knowledge.
Violence, actual or potential. in this
now celebrated case Is certain 10
carry added echoes into the halls of
Congress.
Copyright 1927