The Johnson Immigration Bill, calling for a 2% quota based on the much discussed and protested 1890 census, was passed today by the House of Representatives, by a majority vote of 326 to 71. The friends of immigration in the House showed very little resistance to the determination of the so-called Nordic bloc to pass this bill.
The bill, in addition to its restrictive immigration features, introduces a new practice into America of putting the burden of proof, that he has observed the law upon admission and in the case of deportation proceedings instituted by the Government, upon the immigrant.
The text of this provision is as follows:
Section 23. Whenever any alien attempts to enter the United States the burden of proof shall be upon such alien to establish that he is not subject to exclusion under any provision of the immigration laws and in any deportation proceedings against any alien the burden of proof shall be upon such alien to show that he entered the United States lawfully, and the time, place and manner of such entry into the United States, but in presenting such poof he shall be entitled to the production of his immigration certificate, if any, or of other documents concerning such entry, in the custody of the Department of Labor.
This amendment which was introduced by Representative Begg, Repuhlican of Ohio, was carried by the close vote of 197 to 193.
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