Congressman Jacobstein Introduces New Bill in Congress

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

An unexpected difference of opinion between Congressman Jacobstein of Rochester and the other Jewish Congressmen with reference to the proposed legislation for liberalizing the immigration law was revealed when Congressman Jacobstein introduced a bill in the House which would add to the present quota, only the parents, husbands and children up to twentyone of citizens, and would give mere preference within the quota to such relatives of those who are not full-fledged citizens.

Congressman Jacobstein declared that in his opinion there is little possibility of getting Congress to extend this privilege to relatives of declarants because of the possible increase in the immigration which is feared by the restrictionists who will fight any attempt to considerably increase the present annual maximum immigration of 164,000.

By giving preference within quota to the enlarged category of relatives of non-citizens a certain additional relief will be granted, but this is all that can be hoped for at this time in view of the temper of Congress in opposition to any pronounced liberalization of the law, Congressman Jacobstein stated. On the other hand, there is reasonable opportunity of getting Congress to exempt from the quota children up to twenty-one, the parents and husbands of American citizens which his bill proposes, in addition to wives, who are exempt under the present law. He observed that there is more political wisdom in proposing something that will probably meet with approval, than to disregard the actual adverse Congressional sentiment.

In reply to an inquiry, Congressman Jacobstein stated he had not consulted other Jewish Congressmen before introducing his bill. In a formal statement issued in explanation of his bill, Congressman Jacobstein said:

“The effect of my bill to amend the Immigration Act of 1924 would not materially add to the total number of immigrants who could come into this country. It seeks rather to effect more just distribution. The bill adds to those who are now exempt from the quota the close relatives of American citizens, including the fathers, mothers and children between 18 and 21, and the husbands of women citizens. These are additions to the present law which only exempts the wives of American citizens and children under eighteen years. To this extent my bill would permit a few more people to enter the country than are now permitted to enter under the present law.

“My bill, in the second place, would give preference to immigrants seeking to come here who are the near relatives of aliens residing in the United States. The effect of this would be that of the 164,000 now permitted to enter under the quota law, preference would first be given to those related to aliens residing in the United States, and only that portion of the quota not thus used would go to newcomers not related to resident aliens.

“All other bills that have been introduced to liberalize the immigration law, Senator Copeland’s, Senator Wadsworth’s, Congressman Perlman’s and Congressman Dickstein’s, would take out of the quota class the relatives of aliens residing in this country who have taken out their first citizenship papers. My bill does not go so far as to make them non-quota, but merely gives them preference within quota limitations.”

BREVITIES

A gift of $100 to the United Palestine Appeal has been made by Trinity Episcopal church, Albany, N. Y. Wardens and vestrymen of the church, meeting with the Rev. Creighton R. Storey, rector, voted unanimously in favor of the gift.

Sixty-seven educational institutions of the United States have received in the past six years gifts aggregating $148,257,670 from 492,433 donors, it was announced by John Price Jones at a conference of the Board of Education of the Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City. The sums sought by the institutions, said Mr. Jones, ranged from $125,000 for Bluftton College to $17,500,000 for the University of Chicago. Alumni of all the institutions gave $68,173,994, or about half of the amount raised.

Professor Julius Wolfsohn, of Vienna, famous pianist and author of many books on Jewish music, arrived in New York Tuesday on the Majestic.

Professor Wolfsohn stated to a representative of the “Jewish Daily Bulletin” that the purpose of his visit to America is to deliver a series of forty lectures on Jewish folk music. His tour is being sponsored by Mrs. Rebekah Kohut and Mr. Ludwig Vogelstein, and will be managed by Rabbi J. Max Weis.

JEWISH COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES

A campaign for $75,000 for construction of a community building in Springfield, III., will be launched by the B’nai Abraham congregation of that city. The building will be used for educationa, social and recreational purposes it is announced.

Temple Emanu-El, on the north corner of Forty-third Street and Fifth Avenue, New York, wa sold for a second time in the course of a few weeks for about $6,500,000.

The property was purchased by William B. Ward, head of the Ward Baking Company, from Benjamin Winter, who on Jan. 6 closed contracts with the trustees of Temple Emanu-El agreeing to buy the Temple and the land it occupies for $6,500,000.

The price paid for the Temple Emanu-El corner establishes a new square-foot value for Fifth Avenue real estate. It is believed to be the highest ever paid in Manhattan. There are about 19,136 square feet in the site occupied by Temple Emanu-El, which at $6,500,000 gives it a square-foot value of about $339.61.