House Passes Immigration Bill; Gives Declarants’ Relatives Preferred Status

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Children up to 21 of American citizens and the husbands of American citizens, as well as American born women who married aliens prior to the enactment of the Cable Law, will be exempt from the quota, according to a bill passed in the House yesterday after a debate lasting about twenty minutes under a suspension of the rules. The bill also places in the preferred class, up to ninety percent of each quota, the parents of citizens and the wives and unmarried minor children of declarants. At present one half of the quota is set aside for agriculturists.

Congressman Perhnan declared in his speech that he had intended to offer the Wadsworth-Perhnan bill admitting 35,000 wives and children of declarants as an amendment to the bill as reported favorably by the House Immigration Committee, but he was prevented from doing so by the suspension of the rules which prohibits amendments from the floor. The bill was passed as reported by the Committee and represents the only concession the Committee was willing to make.

Congressman Perhnan criticized the bill for insufficiency but urged the House to accept the measure. Congressman Dickstein and Congressman Sabath, Chairman Johnson and Congressman Box also spoke in favor of the bill. Congressman Abernathy of North Carolina was the only member who spoke in opposition to the bill, on the ground that it would be against American interests to reduce the number of agriculturist aliens. Chairman Johnson said the measure would serve to wipe out some of the inequalities of the present law.

The bill now goes to the Senate where it is hoped it will pass despite the final jam of legislation before adjournment of Congress on Friday.

It is not known what action will be taken in Congress on the National Origins Plan. It appears that no action will be taken and the provision will thus go into effect.

The fourth annual president’s conference of Associated Y. M. and Y. W. H. A. ‘s of New England was held in Boston on Sunday.

Dr. Mordecai Soltes, director of Jewish Extension Education of the Jewish Welfare Board, delivered the principal address.

Round table discussions were held on "Adult Classes in the Center", led by Rabbi Israel M. Goldman of Providence, "Religious Services and Holiday Observance in the Center", led by Rabbi Benjamin Grossman of Boston; "Religious School in the Center", led by Rabbi B. H. Birubaum of Boston; and "The Significance of the Club from the Jewish Educational Point of View", led by Jacob W. Tushins of Boston.

Paterson, N. J., is completing preparations to launch its campaign for a combined quota of $100,000 for the United Jewish Campaign and the United Palestine Appeal. The sum of $70,000 represents the share Paterson is raising toward the $750,000 New Jersey quota of the United Jewish Campaign, and $30,000 will go to the United Palestine Appeal, both these allocations to be raised on a three-year basis.

Easton, Pa., opened its drive on Wednesday for a combined quota of $20,000. of which $15,000 is allocated to the United Jewish Campaign, and $5,000 to the United Palestine Appeal.