Wadsworth Amendment Referred to House Immigration Committee, Not to Conferees

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Danger of an unexpected delay of the Wadsworth amendment was seen yesterday when Chairman Johnson of the House Immigration Committee, instead of asking for the appointment of House conferees to discuss the amendment with the Senate conferees, requested Speaker Longworth to refer the measure to the House Immigration Commitee where it will probably be discussed at the executive session of the committee this morning which originally was scheduled to be devoted to a hearing of Congressman Sabath’s bill for the admission of certain relatives and the repeal of the national origins plan.

It is unlikely, however, that the committee will take action this morning, as Chairman Johnson made it known that he will oppose any effort to unduly rush the proposed legislation. He refused to say whether he is for or against the Wadsworth amendment, stating that he must reserve his decision until later. Meanwhile, he made it known that he has asked the State and Labor Departments for further immigration statistics and information bearing on the question. It was within the power of any member of the Immigration Committee to have prevented reference of the bill to the Committee and to have forced the appointment and reference to the conferees by disagreeing from the floor with the action of the Senate, but the Jewish members of the Committee agreeing as they do with the Warsworth amendment, were unwilling even for parliamentary purposes to go on record as objecting thereto. Moreover, they felt that even if there is a delay this may be utilized to develop a strong favorable sentiment among the members of the committee and if by virtue of this an affirmative committee report can be obtained, favorable action by the House will be practically insured, thus avoiding the necessity of referring the measure to conferees.

congressman Perlman, who was the author of the companion bill to the Wadsworth amendment stated that if the committee does not take action by January 1, 1927, he will force action by moving that the House agree to the Senate amendment. Congressman Perlman stated that if necessary an appeal will be made to President Coolidge and the Department of Labor for a message to the House Immigration Committee urging the adoption of the Wadsworth amendment.

According to the New York “World” some congressmen believe the Ku Klux Klan was a factor in having action delayed. The Klan fought the bill openly in the Senate.

SAMUEL UNTERMYER SAILS ON BELGENLAND WORLD TOUR

Samuel Untermyer sailed Wednesday night on the steamer Belgenland for a cruise around the world. The Belgenland will stop in Palestine for five days.