Speech #660333727

I desire to say as to tile substitute reported by the Senate committee. although I did not vote for it. but only favored it as a last resort. there were four members of thle committee out of nine. I think. who favored the Johnson bill. and if amended as I have suggested it would be a very wise measure. I think if the Senate should adopt the Dillingham plan the percentage of admissions of immigrants as provided for is too high. We should reduce the percentage from 5 per cent to 1 per cent or 2 per cent. or at any rate make it not more than 3 per cent. thereby restricting immigration still further. However. when we reach that matter I expect. as I have suggested. to offer an amendment to make the basis of admission 1 per cent. and if that is not agreed to. to make it 2 per cent. and if that proposition is rejected. to make it 3 per cent. so that we may reduce immigration to that extent. I should prefer also that the percentage be based not upon the number of aliens who lived in this country according to the census of 1910. but upon the percentage of those persons who live here and who have become naturalized citizens of the United States. So I shall also offer an amendment to carry out that idea. I hope we may get some legislation on this subject passed today. and I believe we can.