An assertion by a North Carolina Senator that immigrants from Anglo-Saxon nations deserved preference caused a heated eruption at a hearing of a Senate Immigration Subcommittee yesterday.
Sen, Sam J. Ervin, Jr., North Carolina Democrat, made known his opposition to President Johnson’s bill to end the discriminatory national origins quota system. He told the Committee the bill “discriminates against the people who have made the greatest contribution to building up our country,” He said persons from nations like Germany, England, Holland, Sweden, and Norway deserved preferential treatment.
This infuriated Sen, Jacob K, Javits, New York Republican, who took exception to these views, speaking “as the son of immigrant parents.” He defended immigrants from Eastern Europe, Italy, and other areas, stating they had contributed as much as those from the “Nordic” nations.
Sen, Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat who served as acting chairman of the Subcommittee, ruled Sen. Javits out of order. He said Sen. Javits was only entitled to ask a question pertaining to testimony given today by Secretary of State Dean Rusk. Mr. Rusk, in reply to Sen. Javits’ question, said he would agree that “we should not attempt to judge the value of contributions to our society based on race and national origin.” He said valuable contributions were made by individuals from all parts of the world.
In his testimony, Mr. Rusk stressed that the Administration bill provided for termination of the biased national origins quota system. He urged the Senate to approve the measure, stating that the prejudiced immigration policy now in effect damages American prestige abroad.
Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz said today that the Administration’s proposals for changes in the immigration laws “would promote the admission of individuals with qualifications and occupations needed in the United States.” He stressed that such immigration law changes would not disturb the domestic employment situation and appealed to Congress to end the “anachronistic” national origins quota system.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
