House Passes Two Bills Amending the Immigration Law

The House of Representatives Friday afternoon passed two bills amending the Immigration Law.

(1) The Box Bill which, while specifically aimed to stop the admission of aliens for employment on the American side of the Canadian and Mexican borders, will undoubtedly increase the difficulties of obtaining visas for temporary visits to the United States, and

(2) The Free Bill, which will place in the preference class, along with mothers and fathers of American citizens and agriculturists, skilled technicians in the arts, crafts, business or science fields needed by bona fide employers and unobtainable in America, together with their wives and dependent children. This bill will substantially cut down admission of parents of American citizens in the preference class.

After passing these two bills, the House proceeded to consider the third and last bill reported by the House Immigration Committee, for which a rule was recently granted, namely, the Johnson Deportation Bill. After considerable discussion, the House adjourned at about 5:30. The debate on this bill was still pending and was resumed Saturday, when a vote on the measure was scheduled to take place.

Congressman Sabath spoke for half an hour criticizing various objectionable and defective features of the bill and covering substantially all points made in his minority report on the bill filed this week.

Congressman Dickstein made a strong effort to amend the Deportation Bill so as to change the phrase “any offense” to “felony” in that section of the law making aliens deportable for certain crimes, and pointed out that a number of minor offenses might aggregate the period of punishment for which an alien might be deported. This was objectionable, he said, since aliens should be deported only for felony, which is a more serious crime, and not for an aggregation of minor offenses.

This amendment, however, as well as several offered by Sabath, was defeated. However, as a result of Dickstein’s criticism, Chairman Johnson promised him that he would try to work out over night some amendments to the bill, which would satisfy the criticisms which had been made.

The Box bill provides that no alien shall be admitted as a temporary visitor for pleasure or business, if he is coming under an agreement, express or implied, to engage in or resume employment in any business or industry of the United States, or if he is coming to seek employment. The bill excepts, however, professional actors, artists, lecturers, singers, nurses, ministers of any religious denomination, professors for colleges or seminaries, persons belonging to any recognized learned profession, persons employed as domestic servants (Continued on Page 4)

aliens imported in connection with a fair or exposition authorized by Act of Congress, with the approval of the Secretary of Labor.

Congressmen Sabath, Dickstein and La Guardia conducted a bitter opposition against the Free bill on the ground that it would cut down the relatives admissible under Subdivision “A” of the Quota Preference under the present Law, namely, fathers, mothers and husbands, by marriage occurring after May 31st, 1928, of American citizens principally.

Former Congressman O’Connor of New York declared his opposition to all three bills. He declared that the spirit of the Immigration Act of 1924 was bigoted and un-American. Congressman Vincent of Michigan pointed out that the bill applies to the Mexican as well as to the Canadian border. Congressman Dickstein opposed the bill and contended that it would exclude nurse. Congressman La Guardia, in opposing the bill, asked the House to put Canada and Mexico under quota, if it liked, and stated that this effort had been made but had failed because of the pressure of sugar beet growers. Box denied his bill will exclude nurses.

Congressman Sabath offered an amendment to place technicians in the non-quota class instead of the preference class, but this amendment was defeated. Congressman Dickstein spoke, opposing this bill, stating that there are one hundred thousand mothers who have not seen their sons in America, many of whom fought for America in the War. He said, “Our first obligation is to reunite fathers and mothers with their children instead of making this more difficult by adding a new preference class to share with them.”

Congressman Griffith of New York opposed the bill on the ground that it will choke up the preference class. Congressman Sabath, as senior Democratic member of the Immigration Committee, closed the discussion for the opposition and then offered his amendment, which was later defeated. Congressman Dickstein then moved to refer the bill back to the Committee, which was defeated 279 to 42. The bill itself thereupon was voted upon and passed.

Irving Davidson. a member of the Temple Ansche Chesed Community Center of New York, was awarded first prize for his contribution in the Prize Essay Contest recently conducted among the 50,000 members of the Metropolitan League of Jewish Community Associations. The title of his essay was “Jewish Education as a Medium for Perpetuating Jewish Life.”

First honorable mention was given to Clifford J. Leinwand for his essay on “The American Jewish Youth-What Are They Thinking of and Doing for Judaism.” Second honorable mention was awarded to Paul Goldstein, for his essay on “Jewish Contributions to the Founding and Development of our Country.”

The first prize of $50 represented the income from the Charlotte Blumenthal Memorial Fund of $1,000, contributed by Dr. J. Leon Blumenthal in 1928 for the promotion of cultural activities among the associations affiliated with the Metropolitan League.