Senate Committee Reports Favorably Bill Uniting Immigrant Families

At the meeting of the Senate Immigration Committee held Wednesday, the committee decided to report favorably a new bill recently introduced by Senator Stephens of Mississippi, which provides for the issuance of family visas to the head of the family on his departure for the United States. under this measure, when the husband is granted a visa, his wife and minor children would be granted visas at the same time, instead of having to wait and apply individually after the head of the family has settled in the United States.

The purpose of the bill, it was pointed out, is to facilitate the re-uniting of families. The family visas will be good for one year after issuance, but will become invalid unless applications for renewal for another year are filed with the consul at least sixty days prior to expiration of the first year.

The bill will probably be submitted for vote in the Senate and if accepted there will go to the House.

The Senate Committee took no action on the Free bill for giving expert technicians preference quota status or the Box Bill to regulate temporary admissions across the Canadian and Mexican borders by restricting the general provisions of the temporary visitor clauses of the Immigration Law.

It was decided to table the Free bill temporarily in order to afford further time for consideration of this measure. The Box bill was referred to a subcommittee consisting of Senator King of Utah and Senator Copeland of New York who are to decide whether the hearings on this bill should be held by the Senate Committee before the vote is taken thereon. This was done, it is understood, because of numerous requests which have been received insisting on hearings on this bill.