The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1952-10-04

LONG BEACH. Calf. Oct. A
(JACL ADC)-"To say that there i
no longer need or justification 70
The JACL simply because legislation
for equality in immigration and ma
turalization has become law is t
say that there is no need for a pc
lice department simply because W
have laws against murder" Mix
Masaoka. former national legisla
tive director of the JACL ADO, las
Sunday told delegates to the quar-
terly meeting of the Pacific South
west District Council Of the Japa
nese American Citizens Leagu
which convened at the Barbor Dis
Itejct Community Center.
To illustrate his point. he suggest.
ed that the delegates forget for thu
moment every contribution which
the JACL had made to the welfare
10. persons of Japanese ancestry il
the United States and try to ina
CINE what might happen if the or
ganization ceased to exist.
What happens to evacuation
elaims?" the Nisei lobbyist asked.
The larger claims may require fiji
ty or more years to adjudicate. bas-
ed upon the rate of adjudication
prior to the passage of the JACL-
sponsored compromise settlement
program for the smaller claims.
Who is going to suggest necessary
administrative and legislative rene
dies and who is going to work for
them without the JACL ADC?".
MaSaoka asked.
He also raised the question of ad-
equate Congressional appropriations
to pay even those smaller claims
compromised up to this time. He
said that although the government
has paid off some $13000,000 on
such claims, an additional $4,000. 900
remains to be paid. Recalling that
in the last Congress. major legisla-
tive activity by the JACL ADO was
required TO restore funds needed to
pay compromised claims when the
Senate appropriations committee
deleted the entire amount for eva
cuation claims, Masaoka demanded
to know what organization would
take up the continuing fight to Sc
cure funds to pay evacuation claims
when many Senators and Congress-
men urge that the evacuated Japa-
nese need not be paid because their
vacuation was constitutional and a
wartime emergency.
IF there is no JACL, who is 60
ing to prosecute the right of the in
ternees, who also suffered because
of the evacuation of their families,
to file and receive compensations
and who is going to make represent
tations on behalf of business and o.
Their corporations like churches and
language schools?" he asked.
Turning to the matter of the Wal
er-McCarran Act. the Washington |
Nisei explained that unless natura-
ization procedures were facilitated,
few Issei could actually become ma
5uralized citizens within a reason
able period. The immigration and |
Naturalization Service must not on
~ allow Issei who have been in the
United SEtates for 20 or more years |
and are over the age of so to take
he examinations in japanese, but
must also provide the necessary in
and facilities.
"Ifthe aged Issei inCalifornia. for
are to become ELIGIBLE for
state old-age pensions by becoming
citizens, the naturaliza-
ion process must be speeded up for
hem lest it become a mockery"
Evenimmigration procedures must
De simplified and expedited if the
wives, and unmarried mi
Tor children Of American citizens
ire to enter this country in any
arge numbers. This is even more
rue in the case of preference immi-
rants, such as the alien brothers
md sisters and the alien fathers and
Mothers OF American citizens.
Experience has demonstrated that
Without a national organization to
make representations to the proper
ational agencies involved, these ma
ional matters cannot be resolved.
The passage of legislation does not
Intimate the necessary administra-
i've follow-up.
T'hePresident's recently-appoint-
d Commission on immigration and
naturalization was cited as another
of necessary continuing ma
ional organizational representation.
The JACL shall insist that every
beralization suggested be made ap-
licable to persons of Japanese an
estry on the same basis as for o.
hers" Masaoka said, land this in
ludes the increasing of immigra-
e.. -