The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-04
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY

WIAsHINGTON, Oct, A. Wide
Wv spread opposition to changing
immigration quotas next spring, as
provided in the national origins
provisions of the present law, is re-
vealed by protests received by the
Senate immigration Committee.
These communicates, pouring into
Washington before Congress meets,
indicate that immigration may be-
come a bigger campaign issue than
either Of the parties or presidential
candidates have senSed so far.
From campaign statements, 1t is
believed that Smiths position favor
ing a quota change is popular in
cities with large populations of
southern and eastern European inn
migrants, but that Hoover's stand
for the present quota is more &C
| ceptable to the country as a whole
and especially to immigrant classes
from northern and western Europe.
The present Jaw, enacted in 1924,
fixes quotas on the basis of the 1890
census, thus favoring Britons, Scan
dinavians and Germans. The earlier
law by arriving at quotas on the
1910 census base had favored immi-
! grants from eastern and southeast
ern Europe.
Thus, in 1923, % per cent came
from so-called Nordic countries and
20 per cent from southern countries.
But in 1926, the Nordics we're Ais
per cent, and the southerners only
| 9.6 per cent.
In addition to changing the char
acter Of immigration, the 1924 law
also reduced the total number. The
force Of this can be appreciated by
comparing the total 1927 quota of
! 161 ,346, with the ten-fold greater
number of applicants, amounting to
1,776542.
On the present scale, the 1890
census basis would total 164,667,
compared with 178,493 on a 1900
basis, 24O,350 on a 1910 basis, and
/ 241, 426 on a 1920 basis.
/ TINE present dispute arises over
i a section Of the existing law
providing that a year after enact
ment of the law the total number of
immigrants shall be fixed at 10000
annually, and that quotas shall be
reapportioned on the basis Of "Na-
tional Origin" of the entire popula-
ton in 1920.
That provision has not been car
ried out. Hoover and many others
are trying 10 repeal it and to retain
the 1890 census quota basis.
Twice that provision has been
deferred by Congress to allow
commission adequate time to COM
pute National Origins" Under the
present status the change will go
into effect next spring, unless the
session Of Congress meeting in De-
cember acts to prevent it.
Hoover. as Secretary Of Commerce,
acted with the Secretaries OF Labor
and State, in the National Origins
Commission. The table prepared is
not satisfactory to the commission
itself.
In his speech of acceptance Hoov-
err said:
LAS a member of the commission
whose duty it is to determine the
quota basis under the National Or
igins law, have found it impos-
sible to do 50 accurately and with
out hardship. The basis now in eff
feet carries out the essentials prin-
ciple Of the law, and I favor repeal
of that part of the act calling for
a new basis of quotas"
3 n
GMITH set out to take the exact
~ opposite position on the quota
basis dispute. In his acceptance
speech, he said:
Il am opposed to the principle of
restriction based upon the figures of
immigrant population contained in
a census thirty-eight years Old"
But despite that fiat statement
there is now uncertainty regarding
Smiths position because of a later,
and ALLEGED contradictory statement
in his st. Paul speech last week.
Addressing that section of the coun-
try whose immigrant class is pre-
dominantly Scandinavian and thus
opposed to changing the 1890 census
basis Of quotas, Smith said:
There is no issue between either
parties or the candidates on the
question of sustaining and keeping
in full force and effect the re-
strictive features Of the present i'm
migration laws. Where they are to
be amended for the relief of hard
ship we are in accord"
One suggestion before the Senate
committee, that of DR.. j. A. Hill, as
sistant to the census director, is for
a separate permanent fact-flnding
commission for collection OF data
on which subsequent quota adjust
ments shall be based.