Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-22
Order to Check immigration
Proves to Be Popular Move

That President Hoover has taken a
sensible and helpful attitude in his sug-
gestion to American consuls abroad to
restrict visas to immigrants under the
quota who give ample proof that they
will not become public charges seems
to be the consensus of American news
paper opinion. The President is de-
clared to have made popular move
toward one form of assistance in the
country's unemployment problem.
"Curtailment of immigration, while
1t won't make jobs for jobless Amer
leans, will at least avert diStresses re-
sulting from a multiplication of APP
plicantS for such jobs as are to be had, -
says the New Orleans Item, and the
Hartford Daily Courant remarks: "In
ordering the consular offices Of the
United States in every part Of the world
to refuse visas to applicants who have
no employment in prospect here, Presi-
dent Hoover has made a gesture that
will be popular. How effective it will
prove. in ameliorating conditions re-
mains to be seen," concludes this paper.
Logical enough, too' exclaims the
Rutland Daily Herald, which reasons
that IF there are not jobs enough for
American citizens, there are not enough
for alien newcomers"
Explaining the legality of the action
that has been taken, the New Orleans
Times Picayune says: Discovery of
what might be termed a flexible clause
in the immigration law, to permit this
Tightening up, is credited to the State
Department, which conducted its search
therefor at the Presidents request.
Authority for the more drastic restric-
ton, 1t is explained is found in, or in
terpreted into, that provision OF the law
requiring the exclusion of immigrants
who, If admitted, would be likely to be-
come public charges" AS the Walla
Walla Daily Bulletin puts it.: "The
Presidents new order will mean that
close watch is to be kept at European
ports and on both the Canadian and
Mexican borders. Just now, we need
His latest move ought to give definite
and lasting assistance"
X X
The Erie Dispatch Herald calls at
tention to the fact that broad powers
given the consuls. Certain preferred
classes will not be interfered with by
the order, but the general run of immi-
grafton will be materially reduced, If
the full possibilities of the instruction
are applied It is estimated that it will
lower by half the arrivals that would be
likely in the absence of such reglll9-
ton" concludes this journal. That
America does not have today the bur
den of hordes of newcomers" such as
she had in the days before restricted
immigration" is pleasing to the Oakland
Tribune
That the order has humanitarian
side also is pointed out by the Worces-
ter Evening Gazette, which says of
prospective emigrants from other coun-
tries ITO protect them, as well as to
protect ourselves, we ought to prevent
their coming when we have no work to
offer them" The Chicago Daily News
sees the order as sensible and in no
degree unfair to would-be immigrants
of the desirable types. They retain
their priority and will get their visas
when normal business conditions of EN-
ployment are restored in the United
States" the News explains.
That "the country would not be doing
any kindness to its prospective immi-
grants by letting them enter and swell
the ranks of unemployed" is the posi-
ton taken by the Kalamazoo Gazette,
which considers that special vigilance
in the enforcement of this immigration
rule seems TO be well justified at the
present time While there is evidence
that the economic depression in our
has just about touched bot
TOM and that the turning point Is al
ready in view, recovery certainly would
not be fastened by the admission of
job seekers from the outside" continues |
the Gazette.
The opinion is expressed in some