Senate action before the end of this session to approve the immigration reform bill passed 318 to 95 yesterday by the House of Representatives was predicted today by Sen. Philip A. Hart, Michigan Democrat, a member of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee.
Sen. Hart disclosed, after a subcommittee meeting this afternoon, that he is optimistic over prospects for final Senate passage of the bill before adjournment. He said that he that the Senate would repudiate the “discriminatory national origins quota system, and approve the House concept of Judging immigrants on their individual merit.” He said he would seek the earliest possible action by his subcommittee to report the measure to the full Senate.
Sen. Sam J. Ervin, North Carolina Democrat, another subcommittee member, was less pleased with the House bill. He said that he would seek a definite limitation of immigrants admitted annually, probably attempting to keep the total under 300,000. He also favored a ceiling on immigration from the Western Hemisphere.
Sen. James O. Eastland, Mississippi Democrat, is chairman of both the Immigration Subcommittee and the parent Senate Judiciary Committee. He indicated that he is opposed to the liberal philosophy of the House bill. But it was predicted that he would heed Administration requests, and not keep the measure bottled up in committee for an unwarranted period.
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