Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-20
QUOTA LAW BASIS
MAY Be EXTENDED
Entire Western Hemisphere
May Find U. S. Immi-
grants Reduced.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Restriction Of Mexican immigration,
which now has been formally ap.
proved by Harry Hull. the commits.
sioner general of immigration. may
mean the beginning Of legislation to
apply the quota law to the entire
Western Hemisphere.
Mr.. Hull points out that it Is incon-
gruous to limit all the rest Of the
world, including such countries as
Great Britain, in the number that
may be admitted to the United states
and to allow at the same time un.
restricted immigration from Mexico.
1000 From Mexico.
Actually, If Congress approves the
recommendation, Mexico would be
permitted to send about 1900 persons
q year, calculated on a percentage OF
the number of persons OF given
nationality resident here when the
census of 1890 was taken. APPROX
mately $4,000 came in last year. Mr.
Hull thinks that the quota system
might be applied to Canada as pro-
lection to that country, which at pres
ent can send as many as 1t pleases
across the border. While 10000 would
be eligible for admission, CANADA
doesn't use what would be full
quota anyhow. He thinks tnat
Canada is the victim Of too much mi
grafton, which would be prevented 10
some extent by the quota system set
up here.
But IL Mexico is to be restricted,
the chances are Congress Will want
to take up the whole problem or the
Western Hemisphere. Just at TINS
time. when relations between the
United States and nations south Of
the Rio Grande are none too pleasant.
the discussion may be thought unwise
nv the Department of State and Presi-
dent Coolidge may even be asked to
postpone the decision for another
year.
Cheap Labor Factor.
Western railroads and various in.
dustries in the Southwest may feel
inclined to oppose the legislation, as
Mt present Maxican labor is cheap and
seryiceable. For this very reason,
however. some Of the American labor
leaders are anxious to set up bar
rier. The labor problem in Texas and
In other parts of the South would be
affected somewhat by restriction Of
Mexican immigration. and while a
large number of Mexicans, relatively
speaking, come into the United States
each year, still large number go
back, too.
Apart from the merits Of Mexican
immigration which the Bureau Of I'm
migration here believes should be on
a quota basis IL for no other reason
than to put Europe on footing or
equality with Mexico, the chances are
that the Mexican problem would not
be acted on alone.
Difficulties on Border.
One of the difficulties in handling
Mexican immigration Is that thou
sands annually slip across the border
even now without going through the
usual immigration inspection system.
AS for Canada, the difficulties OF
policing the northern border are
equally great. Some day when a
method OF registration for all aliens
is devised, those who have entered
unlawfully may be checked up. Re.
striction by law will reduce much OF
the Mexican immigration, but whether
the bars can ever be effectively set
up on account of the long boundary
line is a practical aspect which Con
gress undoubtedly will consider.
The situation on the northern bor-
der is somewhat different as the class
Of immigration Is deemed desirable
and in the last five.year period only
one-fifth of what would be a quota
for Canada and New Foundland has
applied for admission.
copyright 1877