(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
Hearings on the Dickstein and MacGregor bills for reuniting families separated because of the immigration restrictions were concluded by the House Immigration Committee yesterday and the committee started consideration of these bills at an executive session immediately following the hearings.
The executive session will continue today, no definite conclusions having been reached yesterday.
Francis H. Kennicutt, representing the Immigration Restriction League and chairman of the Committee on Immigration of the Key Men of America, appeared before the committee opposing any change in the present law which would increase the total immigration to the United States. In reply to questions he declared that he is not opposed to amending the law so as to give special consideration to uniting families without, however, increasing the total immigration.
Congressman Dickstein’s bill would increase the total immigration since it asks for exemption from the quota of the parents and children up to 21 and husbands of American citizens and the wives and children under 21 of declarants, whereas Congressman MacGregor’s bill allows only for preference within the present quota.
Congressman Dickstein cross examined. Mr. Kennicutt, who made many contradictions in his testimony.
A difference in view seems to have developed between Congressman Golder and Congressman Dickstein regarding the character of the amendments which should be made. At the hearing yesterday Congressman Golder indicated that he would be satisfied if the entire quotas were turned over to the relatives of declarants. Dickstein pointed out that in East European countries this would prevent any aliens except such relatives from procuring visas and would thus nulify all except relative immigration. This, he said, would be an unwarranted concession to the restrictionists, since relative relief should be granted in addition to the present immigration allowed by law and not at the expense of the existing immigration.
It is expected that progress will be made at today’s session toward the clarification of the present differences.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
