The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1949-03-05
HERE'S HOW HOUSE PASSED JUDD EN- BILL;
IFAPPROVED BY SENATE, IT WOULD MEAN
DEATH OF 1924 ORIENTAL EXCLUSION ACT


equality in immigration and naturalization The
bill now goes to the Senate.
The report follows:
n steady stream of Congressman spoke i'm be-
half of the measure during two and one-half hour
floor discussion.
Opposition to section of the bill came from
r. personalities Vito Marcantonio (ALP, N.Y.,
and Adam Clayton Powell, 3D., N.Y.. They ques
toned that part OF the measure which would re-
move the West Indies colonies from immigration
quotas of their mother countries and place Them
instead, under annual quota of 100 each.
Except for the West Indies question, not
single voice spoke in opposition to bill which
rcprest hts historic position by the House of
Representatives.
The action was the first vote ever taken by the
House to eliminate all racial restrictions in the
nations immigration and naturalization policies.
If the bill passes the Senate it will restore
immigration rights to Oriental countries excluded
from sending immigrants here since passage of the
Oriental Exclusion Act of 1924
During the floor debate on the bill, Rep. Powell
offered an amendment to except the West Indies
from the Colonial provisions of the bill. AS it
stands, he said it discrminates against the
British West Indies"
Rep. Walter II. Judd (R. MIMI, who intro
duced HR 1919, insisted, however, that the bill
"places all colonies throughout the world on an
equal basis.
ITO bring in far eastern colonies, - he explain
ed, ''it was necessary to set up uniform pattern
for all colonies throughout the world
Rep Powells amendment was defeated by
vote of 11S to 10. Rep Marcantono then asked that
the bill be recommitted to the House Judiciary
Committee for further study of the West Indies
question.
This, too, was defeated by decisive roll call
vote Of}36 to 49,
Vote for passage followed defeat of the move
to recomnt.
Thus, the House of Representatives, for the
first time in the nation history, acted to remove
all racial bars in applying for citizenship.
AS one Of the first speakers for til bill, Rep
Judd told the House one of Americas greatest
problems in the far east has been the fact that the
Oriental Exclusion Act, branded, nsuted and
stigmatzed orientals because of the pigment in
their skim.
He said the Exclusion Act gave proponents
of democracy in Japan Psychological slap in
the fact, and in the end turned out to be one Of
the major causes of the war.
''In the war of ideas today, the fact that we are
tied down i'll Europe makes very political idea
we can use in the far asst that much more import
ant" he said.
He also cited the brilliant record of the Nj
sci in combat ''Ihs BILL he added, gives these
BOYS chance to let their parents become citizens.
! don't know where for so little could do
much
Rep Francis f. Walter Cd, Pa urged his
colleague in the House to realize what Importance
the far east would attach to action on the Judd bill.
He asked that the House ''vote unanimously as
possible" for the bill.
The Judd bill, said Rep Ed Gossctt Cd, Texas),
would "simpy iron the chnks out of our imml-
grafton laws
In response to question about the colonial
provisions of the act Rep. Gossett insisted the
BILL itself, is designed to treat all colonial count
ries equally
He also said that for the first time, the Congress
is considering a law that would ''do complete
ob'' in establishing immigration rights and quotas
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