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House Comittee Favors Huge Quota Cut

February 1, 1923
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The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (J. C. B.) will be glad to answer inquiries for further information about any of the news items contained in this Bulletin.

Information obtained by your correspondent today has considerably clarified the net results of the executive sessions held by the Immigration Committee of the House to date.

The Committee has decided to report the Vaile Bill on the following tentative basis, it is learned; Exempt from Quota restrictions parents, wife, minor children and brothers and sisters under twenty-one, of American Citizens, and wives and infant children of declarants who have resided two years in America and one year previous to declaring intentions to naturalize.

It will thus be observed that the committee has considerably cut down by amendment Gongressman Vaile’s original much more liberal bill for exempting relatives. For the rest alien admissions are to be based on the 1890 census and reduced to two percent. In addition each country is to have 400 immigrants per year, whereas, Vaile’s original proviso would allow 600 per year. The Committee amended this, which is as surprising as the change to the 1890 Census, which appears practically assured although the committee has not definitely decided on it, and Representatives Sabath and Seigel have announced they intend when the question comes up to vigorously oppose this change in Census, greatly reducing Jewish immigration.

The estimated annual reductions resulting from the change to the 1890 Census, are as follows: Poland from 21,076 to 5,300; Russia from 21,613 to 2,000; Lithuania 2,310 to 212; Roumania 7,419 to 614: Bessarabia 2,790 to 244; Gzechoslovakia 14,577 to 2,015; Austria 7,451 to 1,101; Hungary 5,630 to 469;

It should be borne in mind, however, that each of the above countries will be equally entitled to extra 400 immigrants per annum.

As decided by the committee, the bill will contain a provision for consular certificates to be issued to each Alien by the consul at the rate of about 10% of the annual quota per month. Relatives exempted from the quota operation will be entitled to certificates at all times.

Another provision contained in the bill is understood to be that Alien leaving on a temporary trip abroad will be issued card costing two dollars, which will exempt him from quota, provided he returns within six months. At present the Alien has great difficulty proving his previous residence.

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