Putting National Origins Provision into Effect Opposed by Hoover

With the seventieth session of Congress drawing to a close and the jam in the legislative calendar of both houses growing more acute, two important pieces of legislation affecting immigrants to the United tates hang in the balance.

Complete uncertainty prevails both with regard to the National Origins provision of the 1924 Immigration Act and with regard to the amendment to the Naturalization Law introduced by Senator Copeland of New York and passed by the Senate and tentatively agreed to by the Senate and House Conference Committee for the legalization of the entry of those immigrants who came to the country illegally prior to July 1, 1924.

The resolution of Senator Nye to postpone the application of the National Origins provision for another year having been tabled, the question is now left to President-elect Hoover, who, according to the 1924 Act, if no postponing action occurs, has to issue a proclamation on April 1 putting the clause into effect as of July 1. The question however, is debated, whether the issuance of the proclamation is mandatory upon the President. The matter is still more complicated due to the fact that President-elect Hoover in his acceptance speech clearly declared that he was in favor of repealing the National Origins clause. On the other hand, heavy pressure is being brought to bear by the patriotic organizations which advocate the enactment of the clause and a generally more restrictive policy of immigration, motivated by the “Nordic superiority” idea.

Senator Nye who served notice that before adjournment he will again attempt to get action in the Senate on his resolution for postponement, had a conference with Mr. Hoover on February 22. After he left the President-elect, the Senator stated: “I am at liberty to state that Mr. Hoover has not changed his views to the effect that the National Origins provision should be repealed.”

Hopes for the adoption of the Copeland Naturalization Bill appeared on the verge of being dashed to the ground Monday when Congressman Albert Johnson, chairman of the House Immigration Committee, made it known that he not only would not change his mind in refusing to sign the Senate and House Conference agreement, reporting the bill for final vote, but would even vigorously oppose the adoption of the conference report on the floor of the House, should the necessary majority of three House conferees sign the agreement.

In addition, Congressman Sabath sent hopes of such a majority action glimmering when he stated that after consideration he has decided not to sign the agreement as the third conferee for the reason that the Copeland Bill, as changed by the conferees, contained provisions for voluntary registration, which in his opinion constitutes an opening wedge for compulsory registration, and that this objection is sufficient to outweigh the advantage incident to the clause of the bill legalizing the status of those who entered unlawfully prior to July 1, 1924.

The voluntary registration features of the conference agreement, to which Congressman Sabath has reference, in addition to the registration of unlawfully entering aliens, include the issuance of certificates, upon voluntary registration, to aliens deriving their citizenship through the naturalization of their parents during minority and to aliens going abroad for a temporary stay. Congressman Sabath added that the probable danger of the bill’s defeat through the active opposition of Albert Johnson renders it more advisable to keep the bill from coming to a vote in the House, rather than suffer defeat, for if it remain in its present deadlocked status, there is a far better likelihood of enacting a more favorable bill at the next session, with the objectionable clauses eliminated.

An understanding of the situation would make it possible to appreciate his reasons for his decision, Congressman Sabath explained, in justification of his stand, adding that when the press and the public become thoroughly familiar with the various factors as outlined by him, they will realize he is adopting the course that is most advisable in the long run.

In view of this development, Congressman Dickstein of New York, who was one of the first to advocate a legalization measure, stated Monday that he will call a conference for Tuesday of friends of the original Copeland Bill, including Senator Copeland, Congressman Sabath and others, for the purpose of discussing the entire situation and deciding upon a final course of action. Until then, Congressman Dickstein stated, he prefers to withhold any comment as to the position taken by Congressman Sabath.

The only possibility of breaking the deadlock would be a willingness on the part of Congressman Sabath to compromise with Congressman Johnson, by accepting 1921 in lieu of 1924, in exchange for eliminating the objectionable voluntary registration and the high registration fees of the bill. This, however, seems unlikely.

Senator Copeland, it is understood, is also opposed to making such a compromise, but Tuesday’s conference called by Dickstein will probably decide these and any other questions affecting the fate of the bill.

A hearing was held Monday by the Senate Sub-committee consisting of Senators Copeland, King, Gould, on the Box bill for the restriction of the temporary admission of aliens. Most of those who appeared before the committee were in favor of the bill. Hearings will probably be continued Tuesday. It is uncertain whether the sub-committee will be in a position to report on this bill to the full committee prior to the termination of the present session. Meanwhile, the Free technician bill remains tabled, while the deportation bill, as amended by the conference, has not yet been officially reported for action.