News Brief

If the resolution adopted by the House Committee is accepted by the House the bill will go to the Senate for concurrence. Should the Senate fail to concur, it will be referred to the Senate and House Conferees. The possibility arises, however, that the disagreement which has now ocurred between the two houses of Congress may result in a parliamentary obstruction, preventing the question from being finally decided this session. This might result in the “national origins” plan going into effect next April. Meanwhile, no ruling for consideration of the amendment to the Immigration law for the relief of relatives of declarants recently reported by the House Committee has yet been obtained. It is understood, however, that Chairman Johnson is expected to soon make a move to obtain action by the House. It is possible that both measures will be under consideration at the same time.

Congressman Sabath submitted a proposal to amend the present quota law so that the basis of the allotment of quotas could be changed from the 1890 census to the 1900 census, which would increase the number of quota immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe about fifty thousand. The Committee rejected Sabath’s proposal. He argued that the 1900 census was much more equitable than the 1890 census becuse the former more accurately represents the nationalities now residing in America. Sabath predicated his pooposal upon the understanding that while the Eastern and Southern European quotas would be increased by 50,000, the total quotas from all countries would not be increased beyond the present figure. But this did not induce the Committee to change its attitude to the idea as it would cut down Nordic immigration.

Congressman Dickstein announced that he will introduce a bill to deport any alien husband who fails to maintain in accordance with his means his wife and children living abroad. Such an alien, according to the bill, could only save himself from deportation by giving a satisfactory bond to the Secretary of Labor for the future support of his family. The Secretary of Labor would have authority to issue a warrant of deportation whenever it is shown that an alien is guilty of nonsupport.

In explaining his hill Congressman Dickstein stated he is introducing the meansure to combat the serious problem of non-support which has arisen in cases of separated families caused by present hardships of the immigration law. He stated a number of serious cases involving this problem have been brought to his attention, influencing him to introduce the bill which he said will also serve to forcibly bring to the attention of Congress the evils which the present harsh immigration law has caused.

At a meeting of the leaders of the Jewish Community of Bethlehem, Pa., it was decided to hold a joins campaign for Paletine and relief on Sunday. February 13th, to raise a quota of $30,000. The officers of the Campaign Committee are Aaron Potruch, Chairman: Morris Blask, Vice Chairman; H. M. Goodman, Treasurer, and Dr. F. Stoneman, Secretary.