Replies to Congressman Celler’s Inquiry; Immigration Act Requires Tests be Made (Jewish Daily Bulletin)
An explanation of the intelligence tests applied by the United States Consuls in Poland before graining visas to applicants was given by H. S. Cumming, Surgeon General of the Bureau of Public Health Service, in reply to an inquiry addressed to Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg by Congressman Emanuel Celler.
Congressman Celler inquired as to whether the questions submitted by the American Consuls to the applicants are the usual type of questions on the basis of regulations issued by the United States Government and whether or not the Department has sanctioned the application of intelligence tests. Mr. Celler cited an instance where the mother of an American citizen, residing in Miadzol, Vilna, was asked upon application for a visa a answer the following questions:
“How many feathers has a goose more than a duck?” ‘What is the difference between a man and a woman?” “How many legs have three people and two chickens?” The examiner gave the woman a piece of wood and asked her to carve something there from He gave her a pencil and paper and asked her to draw something.
To Mr. Celler’s questions the Surgeon Genera replied:
“With reference to questions that are being propounded to aliens abroad as a part of the test of their fitness of come to this country, it is advised that question of the general type a those contained in the list submitted are usually asked of those aliens who are selected for intensive mental examination. All aliens are not subjected to such intensive examination: only those are so subjected who are suspected of being mentally defective and the propounding of questions of this type is a part of their psychiatric examination. Considered as identities, these questions are manifestly ridiculous and readily recognized as such by people of normal intelligence. The psychiatric interest in propounding such questions principally attaches to the reaction that the questions produce in the alien’s mind, with due regard as to its actual absurdity. The literal meaning of such questions is entirely overshadowed by the mental reaction that they are designed to produce. The propounding of questions of this type constitutes but a minor one of many phases of psychiatric investigation necessary to the proper determination of mental stability or lack of stability. Taken laone, they are of very slight import, but considered as part of a whole in psychiatric work, they fulfill a certain requirement.
“It is not possible to furnish you with a list of questions propounded to aliens under the above conations. The various psychiatric examiners propound questions of this general type, varying the questions among themselves and from day to day. There are no such definitely worded questions prescribed by law or regulation, but the use of questions of this general type is prescribed as a part of special mental examination applied to aliens suspected of being mentally defective.
“The mental and physical examination of immigrants is prescribed under sections 3, 16. and 23 of the Immigration Act of 1917, approved February 5, 1917, and the conduct of such examinations is governed by the ‘Regulations Governing the Medical Inspection of Aliens, 1927.’
“The Immigration Act of 1924, approved May 26, 1924, prescribes the general procedure to be applied in the selection of intending immigrants abroad.”
The erection of a synagogue and community center is planned in Patchozue, N. Y. A committee headed by Samuel Jacoby, was appointed to prepare plans.
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