Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-05
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

by It's champions. 1t has not only re-
duced the total number of aliens
crowding our shores. but IL has Sc
lected the classes desired-rather than
the undesirables who sought to escape
the conditions In their own countries,
regardless of how good Americans they
would ever make.
In addition to that. the new law of
1924 provides viSas controlled by Ameri-
can consuls abroad, and the would-be
immigrant Is looked up under his home
environment: his police record, II any,
examined. and the visa when issued
becomes an assurance that he viii &C
tually be admitted upon arrival here.
Prior to this system thousands arrived
only as far as our ports and we're there
sent back because OF disease or criminal
records or for other legal objections to
their admission. That caused untold
suffering which the present visa, issued
before they start across the ocean.
wholly avoids. In the last two years
only 2 per 10000 immigrants we're
turned back at the port OF entry.
But up to the present July ID the
immigrants troubles were not ended
when he passed the portals of entry.
for he had nothing to prove to stran-
gers the legality OF his entry. and many
large employers of labor have rule
refusing employment to aliens who can
not prove their lawful entry. The
| American Federation of Labor insists
on that rule.
Long ago provision had been made
Tor giving the tourists. the we'll do
travellers who came on temporary busi-
| ness or pleasure, a certificate to that
effect. setting forth their status under
the immigration law but not until last
Sunday was there similar card OF
identification for the immigrant who
came to make America his permanent
home and here to rear his family as
| good American citizens. Yet exactly
that kind OF official evidence is required
whenever the alien seeks either first or
tinal naturalization papers, or In case
ne desires to enlist In the Navy, The
card Is issued free. This card is per-
manent and does not require that the
holder have II visaed or renewed an
nually.
While 1t is not now to be issued TO
immigrants already here, there Is a
plan under consideration which will
enable such residents to apply for their
cards. based upon evidence OF their law
ful entry.
II such q resident desires to visit the
~
sary to produce evidence that he has a
legal status here before he could be
readmitted upon his return The iden-
LITIGATION card will cover that require
ment once for ALL So 1t will be Of
value In proving the ages of children
when they arrived with their parents,
to enable them to quit school and seek
employment at lawful age.
"
At the last session of Congress some
OF the minor faults found In the law of
| 1924 were corrected. For example, un-
der the original law, the alien wife of q
citizen was admitted ON the strength OF
the husbands citizenship or his status
as an admitted alien immigrant. But
| the reverse was not true e., the alien
husband OF an American woman or OF q
wife who was admitted as citizen or
| immigrant under tho quota could not
come In. The husband must await the
| quota. So the law separated husband
and wife In such latter cases. While
| II put the husband on the preference
list" In many cases that was worthless,
since the preference" would still re-
| auire delay Of from | To 80 years,
That has now been amended 30 that II
either husband or wife Ia on the nom
quota basis, so Is the other by virtue
OF the marriage.
The result Of this amendment does
not increase the total of immigrants,
! for II simply opens the door to the pre-
ferred married on the preference list
and crowds back others not preferred, :"
| NJ
Not only does the 1924 law reduce
the entries at the ports, but II Is grad
ually reducing the number Of aliens al.
ready within our domain, In the 10
months ended April 49, ia2a, We re-
ceived l33,i6e immiaaants, of whom
nearly 90 per cent casA from Northern
Europe, and Europe took back 47.a5i.