Copeland Naturalization Bill is Passed by Both Houses of Congress

On the eve of its adjournment Congress was literally gorged with last minute action on immigration legislation. The House of Representatives late Friday night at an evening session passed the Copeland naturalization bill which, having been previously passed by the Senate, will now become law upon receiving the President’s signature.

Another bill introduced recently by Congressman Sabath of Chicago which was passed Friday by the Senate and, after undergoing certain amendments in the Senate, favorably reported Saturday morning by the House Immigration Committee, is expected to be passed by the House Saturday and will likewise go to the President for signature. This bill makes it unnecessary for an alien to take out a new declaration of intention where there has been a change of sovereignty since the original declaration of intention was made.

Still another bill which was passed Friday by the House and is expected to be favorably acted upon Saturday by the Senate and then go to the President, is the deportation bill as amended by the conferees, who struck out the entire bill as recently passed by the House except the provision for deporting and punishing aliens with imprisonment who re-enter or attempt to re-enter America after having been previously deported and another provision with regard to the deportation of (Continued on Page 4)

Following these actions Friday by Congress, the House Immigration Committee met Saturday morning and voted to favorably report the bill of Congressman Chindblom to postpone the National Origins clause for another year, a bill identical to that upon which Senator Nye made an unsuccessful effort to obtain action by the Senate recently. Congressman Chindblom will make a strong effort to get the bill passed by the House today so that it may go to the Senate where it is hoped a majority may be mustered for it, despite the hostility of the Senate Immigration Committee led by Senator Reed of Pennsylvania, father of this clause, who may conduct a filibuster which would defeat the measure.

The House Immigration Committee Saturday morning also approved a technical amendment made by the Senate to the aforementioned Sabath bill and it is expected this bill will be passed by the House Saturday and go to the President for signature. The Committee also voted to report favorably the resolution of Congressman Johnson of Oklahoma to appoint a special committee to investigate the smuggling of aliens into the United States and the alleged smuggling ring regarding which a sensational series of articles has been appearing in the press. It also reported favorably the bill of Congressman Hamiltion Fish of New York to deport aliens convicted of peddling narcotics. It is doubtful whether the last two bills can be acted upon by both the Senate and the House prior to adjournment before noon on Monday, although there is talk of an all-night session Saturday night and possibly one Sunday.

An interesting feature in connection with the adoption of the Copeland naturalization bill Friday was the fact that Congresswoman Kahn of California occupied the chair as Speaker pro-tempore, while the most bitter opponent of the bill. Congressman Box of Texas, was leading his furious onslaught against the measure.