Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-04
Shaiton Asks Passage
OF Bill 10 Open U. 5. 10
400, 600 Refugees


publican, OF Illinois today urged
congressional approval OF 4 pro-
gram to permit 400, 900 displaced
persons In Europe to come to
the United States over a four
year period.
Tt will save the taxpayers money
TOT enact my BILL" he told a House
Judiciary subcommittee at the
opening of hearings on the meas
ure, which has drawn the support
Of more than 80 national organiza-
tons.
I'VE have these displaced per-
sons on our hands, !" he said. There
are over 100000 in the American
zone alone. 1t costs the American
taxpayer 81 per day per displaced
person-over $182 900 600 a year"
Mr.. Stratton pointed out, that the
displaced persons can be maintained
in camps indefinitely, turned out
to starve, or be resettled In new
homes with the United States tax
ing its flair SHARE"
Last Alternative Is Answer.
1.-The last alternative Is the logi-
cal, humane and practical solution, -
he said
Mr.. Stratton described his bill as
temporary emergency Legislation"
which would remove immigration
quota barriers to permit 100000 per-
sons year for four years to enter
this country. but would not bypass
or waive elaborate selective mech
anism and screening tests Of the
basic immigration laws"
He said there Is a ''hard core" of
about $4,000 displaced persons be-
ing maintained in Germany, Austria
and Italy who refuse to return to
their homelands, where they would
meet persecution, abuse and death
at the hands of Communist-domi-
mated governments"
Cites immigration Quotas.
Mr.. Stratton recalled that the
immigration Quota Act was de-
signed to admit up to $4,000 i'm
migrants annually. He said less
than 100000 quota immigrants were
admitted in the entire period from
1899 to 1914.
Less than half the number OF
allowable quota immigrants are
likely to enter the United States
in the next few years" he asserted.
Consequently, with my emergency
act for the displaced persons there
will be annual admission during the
next four years of just about the
total of $4,000 immigrants who are
permitted to enter under existing
law"
Representative Gossett, Democrat,
of Texas commented that the pend
ing bill would permit "a lot Of trou-
ble-makers" to enter the United
States.
Would Require Screening Test.
Mr.. Stratton replied that his bill
would not permit any individuals to
enter the country unless they could
pass the screening test to meet other
requirements OF the immigration
laws.
The subcommittee adjourned until
Friday after hearing Mr.. STATIONS
testimony. Assistant Secretary of
State Hilldring. who was on hand
to testify today. but was not called,
probably will be heard then.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Lowell
Rocks, UNRRA director general,
told a press conference that the
best thing displaced persons can do
in their own interest would be to
leave the camps and go back to the
countries of their origin.
Gen. Rocks said, however, that he
is for the Stratton bill or any
other measure that would relieve
the situation.
Protests Criticism of UNRRA.
Gen. Rocks GALES the conference
20 protest current criticism OF
UNRRA. He said UNRRA's critics,
for political purposes. would prefer
to see the DPS remain in the camps