First-hand information concerning the proposed legislation which is being considered by Secretary Davis and other officials of the Labor Department having to do with immigration, has been obtained by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
A special legislative drafting committee has been appointed in the Labor Department, it is learned, which is drawing up a bill to be submitted to Congress for enactment at the next session.
The outstanding feature of the bill as now being drafted represents an extraordinary departure. It provides that immigration shall be totally suspended and cease from all countries except those consenting to the absolute control of visas by the United States Government through its consular officers, and medical examination of all prospective immigrants abroad before issuance of visas.
The bill as now being drafted will also be based on the census of 1890, in order to favor nordic immigration as against that from Eastern and Southern Europe.
Asked if leaders of Congress favor the proposed legislation, it was replied that generally they approved it. Chairman Johnson, of the House Immigration Committee, advocates a liberalizing modification, however, that will admit close relatives, irrespective of the position of foreign governments, and thus give these relatives complete exemption from restrictions.
It is expected that the entire draft of the suggested bill will be ready in ample time for submission to the new Congress. It should be understood however that Congress is not bound to accept any of the Labor Department’s suggestions.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
