The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1951-03-10

WASdlNClON, ID. C., March 10
tADC)-Three of the nations lar
gest and most influential veterans
organizations, once in the forefront
of anti-Oriental legislation, this
week came out strongly in support
of eliminating racial barriers in i'm
migration and naturalization, &C
cording to the JACL nti-Discrimi-
nation Committee.
They expressed their views as pu-
bic hearings opened before a Joint
Senate-House committee studying
revision of all immigration, natu-
radiation and nationality laws.
Representatives of the American
Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars
and Disabled American Veterans all
includedofficial Endorsement of e.
quality in immigration and natura-
lization in testimony on three omni-
bus bills under consideration.
The bills were introduced by Sen.
Pat McCarran Cd, New and Reps.
Francis E. WalterD.. Pa and E.
manuel Celler 3D., N. ". All call
for repeal of remaining sections of
the Oriental Exclusion Act, extern
sion of annual immigration quotas
to all Asian and Pacific countries,
including Japan, and elimination of
race as qualification for naturali-
cation.
These principles were first enun-
ciated In legislative form by the
JACL and Incorporated two years
ago in the Judd bill.
THE official stand of the Anne
rican Legion, VIEW and DAV is his
toric," said Mike Masaoka, national
JACL ADO legislative director,
for 1t represents a complete rever-
sal of former policy. For the first
time these groups have endorsed
equality in immigration and natu-
ralization." He recalled that in 1924
veterans organizations we're among
those most responsible for passage
of the exclusion laws,
The first day of what may prove
to be a month of hearings on the
complicated immigration and natu-
ralization bills was opened by Sen.
McCarran, chairman of the joint
committee. who said the bills repre-
sented the first attempt in American
history to bring together and codi-
fly all of the thousands of statutes.
executive orders and administrative
decisions on immigration and natu-
ralization since 1889
He said the basic principle of his
bill is to write "sound immigration
and naturalization system for the
preservation of our way Of life
Specifically, he claimed his bill |
has six significant sections: /. Sc
lective immigration; 2. elimination
of race and sex determinations. 3.
more thorough screening Of immi-
grants 4. structural changes in i'm
migration and naturalization en-
forcement agencies 5. strengthen
ing exclusion and deportation pro-
visions of present law; and 8. siren
gthening naturalization and depor-
tation laws to weed out undesira-
bles".
Rep. Walter described his bill as
companion" measure to Sen. Nc
Carran's and agreed there is ire
mendous need to codify the laws,
amendments, substitutes and addi- /
tons" Of immigration and naturali-
zation statutes into one comprehen-
sive and understandable measure.
He said his bill would take care of
The main loopholes. inequities and
shortcomings In present law"
He laid particular stress on the
sselective immigration" provisions of I
his bill, comparable TO Sen. Nc
Carrans. Under this formula, those
with special technical and educa-
tional skills needed by the United
States would be given first priority
in immigration. !
Rep. Celler outlined briefly the
provisions of his bill which, though
similar in framework to the McCar-