New Drastic Bill Against Immigration Introduced in U.S. Congress by Gasque

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

A bill for the suspension of immigration into the United States, even more drastic than that recently introduced by Representative Blanton of Texas, has been introduced in the House by Representative Gasque, Democrat, of South Carolina, Under this bill all immigration of aliens to the United States is prohibited commencing with thirty days after the passage of the bill.

The only exceptions provided by the bill are in favor of the parents over fifty years of age, unmarried sisters, widows, daughters and sons not over eighteen, who would be allowed to enter. The bill also exempts Government officials, their families and members of their suite, travellers for business or pleasure, ministers, religious teachers, missionaries, lawyers, authors, chemists, civil engineers, artists, teachers and students.

Congressman Brand of Georgia has introduced a bill to cancel certificates of citizenship of aliens who procured the same illegally or fraudulently, and further providing that if any naturalized citizen returns to the country of his nativity, and takes permanent residence there it shall be considered prima facie evidence of a lack of intention to become a permanent citizen of the United States, and in the absence of countervailing evidence, shall be sufficient to authorize cancelation of citizenship as fraudulent. The bill calls upon American diplomatic and consular officers in foreign countries to furnish the Department of Justice with the names of such naturalized citizens.

The bill defines that a person is not of “good moral character” under the naturalization law if he “is not attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and not well disposed to the laws and the good order and happiness of the United States.”

As to the meaning of “good moral character” the bill states: “if he is not otherwise of good moral character within the usual meaning of the term.”

The House Immigration Committee at its meeting on Tuesday confined itself to a further consideration of the bill of Congressman Box of Texas to place all countries of the Western Hemisphere on a quota basis for immigration. Congressman Black, Sanders and Henry Ward were the speakers.