PA.. Novembecr 27. 1911. A remonstrance against further restriction of immigration. in view of a number of propositions now pending in Congress for the further restriction of immigration. the Jewish Community of Philadelphia. a representative organization constituted by delegates from many congregations. educational institutions. charitable associations. benevolent orders. and other societies. begs leave to submit to the Senators from Pennsylvania and the Representatives from the congressional districts of Philadelphia the following considerations: I. Existing law prohibits the incoming of criminals. paupers. lunatics. persons of immoral life. those afflicted with contagious diseases. and all others who may reasonably be regarded as dangerous to the public: welfare or likely to become burdens upon the public purse. These provisions are sufficient for the exclusion of all unfit immigrants. and any further restriction must inevitably result in inhumanity and wrong. It. Two of the proposed restrictive measures are especialLy objectionable. namely. the imposition of an educational test and the increase of the head tax. (a) With regard to the literacy requirement. it is submitted that this is not a fair measure of moral worth. of economic value. of mental capacity. or civic virtue. Experience proves that moral soundnesssimple honesty--is independent of intellectual culture. The vast majority of those ignorant of letters are morally sound. while a minority of the literate are morally defective. despite their education. (b) With respect to the proposed increase of the head tax. it is submitted that for the special purpose of. providing for the cost of administering the immigration law the present head tax of $4 furnishes a large surplus and is therefore more than enoogh. As a source of revenue for general purposes it would be essentially unjust. putting an undue burden upon those least able to bear it. It1.
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immigrants immigration head tax