Evening star., 1953-02-22

The McCarran-W Walter Immigra-
hornets nest in many quarters, is
facing the stern opposition of some
of the Nations most influential
church groups.
Since it took effect last December
"a, charges Of discrimination,
"bigotry' and injustice have been
leveled against the act. But it has
been as vehemently defended.
President Eisenhower has added
to the debate by urging Congress to
review the legislation and by re-
marking that it contains injuSticeS
and, in fact, discriminateS.
There is, among church people,
widespread agreement that the
present law has improved past legis-
lation in many respects, such as
unifying the confused mass of imn1i-
grafton law. They are now, according
to Miss Sarah Weadick of the Ma
tional Catholic Welfare Conference,
'for the first time. all in one place."
SVIUS DOIIbSIS 6OWSISU
The act has removed existing
racial barriers to admiSsibility and
citizenship, though not as completely
as many would like. 1t has, also for
the first time, set up a system of
"selective immigration" whereby SO
per cent of all quotas is for qualified
immigrants having higher educa-
tion, technical training, specialized
experience, or exceptional ability"
whose presence here would benefit
the country.
These and other provisions, in
cluding removal of sex diScrimina-
tory rules, have provided defenders
with strong arguments.
The major point of revisionistS'
objections centers around retention
of the quota system, in use since
1924. Quotas are assigned to various
countries in proportion to the num-
ber of people of that racial stock
living here in 1920. AS result two
thirds of all quota numbers are given
to Great Britain, Ireland and Ger
many, with few using the former
two. This lop-Sided system is fur
ther attacked because no provision
is made so natives of countries hav-
ing sharply limited and oversub-
scribed quotas could fill unused
quotas.
At present, under the immigra-
ton formula of one-tenth of per
cent of our country'S population, as
determined by the most recent CEN
sus. 154,657 persons may enter the
United States. The previous quota
ratio was one-Sixth Of / per cent,
which would admit 251,162 immi-
grants.
Many Statements Issued
During the past six months vari-
Gus church bodies, at regular meet
ings, have issued statements on the
law. The latest came this month
from the 4-million-member National
Lutheran Council. This group ex-
pressed satisfaction at Gen. Eisen-
hower's request for a review of exist
ing immigration legislation and
called on Congress to adopt "a just
and workable substitute for the ma
tional-originS quota system"
A similar statement was approved
by the National Council of Churches
last December at Denver, Colo. The
American Baptist Convention passed
a resolution urging Congress to re-
wise the law so it would be more
in keeping with our democratic ira
dition. providing for a flexibility in
making adjustments between ma
tional quotas and removing all dis
criminatory provisions based upon
considerations of race, color or SEX"
The Disciples of Christ ap-
proved a more or less similar mo-
tion. The triennial General Con-
vention of the Episcopal Church
last September also called for a
review of the policy on immigra-
ton.
The Baltimore Annual Conference,
the Methodist Church, last June
asked for a veto of the law and
called on Congress to enact a meas
ure which will uphold the prin-
ciples and ideals of democracy and
Christian citizenship and avoid un-
fair discrimination"
Bruce M. Mohler, director Of