Johnson Asks Rule to Expedite Passage of Four Immegration Bills

Chairman Johnson of the House Immigration Committee asked the House Rules Committee today for a rule to permit a vote by the House the early part of next week, probably Tuesday, on four bills; the Johnson deportation bill approved by the Committee; the Schneider bill to legalize the status of aliens who unlawfully entered the United States prior to July 1, 1921; Congressman Frees bill to give preference to skilled technicians, and the Box bill restricting the admission of Canadians for daily employment across the border.

The Free bill, as definitely formulated and approved by the House Committee, provides that along with certain relatives of American citizens and agriculturists who are already given preference up to fifty percent of the quota for each country there shall be given preference also without priority of preference as to other classes now receiving preference, to aliens who, being trained and skilled in a particular art, craft, technique, business or science, are needed by bona fide American employers to engage in work to perform which persons of like qualifications cannot be found or employed in the United States, as well as their wives and dependent children under eighteen accompanying or following to join them. Such preference cannot be given to such aliens without the prior approval of the Secretary of Labor pursuant to a bearing as no the need of this class of workers in the United States.

The Committee amended the Schneider bill by including Chairman Johnson’s proposal to legalize the status of illegally entering aliens from the date the bill shall go into effect instead of the date of entry as originally provided. Congressman Sabath and Congressman Dickstein fought to extend the period of those eligible for legalization from 1921 to 1934, without success. Congressman Sabath indicated that he will offer an amendment from the floor for this extension.