Minority Opposes Dickstein’s Bill Exempting Parents

A minority report opposing Congressman Dickstein’s recent favorably reported bill to exempt parents over 55 years of age of American citizens from the quota under the immigration laws, has been filed by six of the more than twenty members of the House Immigration Committee. The six members who signed the minority report were Congressmen Jenkins, Box, Green, Moore, Taylor and Rutherford.

The signing of the minority report by so many members of the Committee came as a surprise, inasmuch as at the meeting where the bill was voted favorably reported only two members indicated an intention of opposing the bill. The other four members were all absent, evidently deciding to join Congressman Box and Jenkins, the original opponents, after the meeting.

In a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondent, Congressman Dickstein asserted his confidence of ultimate adoption of the bill by the House despite the minority report, which he stated in his opinion would not materially influence the majority of the members of the House. Dickstein also stated that he has approached Chairman Gould of the Senate Immigration Committee whose response to the bill was sympathetic and who indicated his intention to call an early meeting of the committee to consider it. Dickstein said he has also conferred with Speaker Longworth regarding securing rule for early vote by the House.

Declaring that the bill if passed will admit as non-quota immigrants about 15,000 immigrants “whose coming is delayed by the quota restrictions of the Immigration Act of 1924,” the minority report points out that this is but a small part of the breach the amendment would make in the Immigration laws. “It is an opening wedge creating a serious rift,” the report asserts, citing five additional arguments and various points in objection to the amendment.