House Committee Rejects Bill That Would Have Cut Quota Immigration by 50 Percent

By a vote of six to five the House immigration committee today rejected the Johnson bill to cut the immigration quota in half thus removing the danger of the bill passing during the closing days of the present session of Congress. Had not Congressman Dickstein cancelled his plans to leave Washington yesterday and arranged, to remain for another day to be present at the voting of the bill, it would have been voted out favorably for consideration by the House. It was his vote which saved the situation.

Congressman Dickstein led the fight against the bill in a bitter debate which took place this morning. Another unexpected development took place, when Congressman Cable of Ohio proposed another bill to the committee, giving the President authority to suspend all immigration at any time within his discretion. This bill was also rejected, by a vote of seven to four.

During the debate on the Johnson bill, Congressman Dickstein called attention to the drastic cuts which have been, made in the annual immigration, from 1,300,000 before the War, to the present figure of 150,000 besides nonquota immigrants. Employment conditions are not affected by such a small annual immigration, he said.

The correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency learns from reliable sources that the inspiration for Johnson’s surprise bill was under-secretary of State Cotton who is said to have proposed that the immigration from the Eastern hemisphere be cut in half as a substitute to satisfy those who have been agitating for placing the Western hemisphere under the quota which the State department has been opposing for fear of diplomatic difficulties.