Speech #670195648

Mr. Chairman. this resolution proposes to admit into the United States some 2.443 innigrants from the various nations of Europe in excess of those who would be admitted under the 3 per cent quota law. The 3 per cent quota law is the most restrictive measure we have ever had 11pon our statute books with respect to immigration. After the House passed the first bill suspending immigration it went to the Senate. and this bill was written in its steal as being the only restrictive measure possible to get through the Congress. I supported it. Later. when the resolution came in to admit something over 1.000 immigrants who were to be admitted over the quotas of the various nations. I supported that resolution. broke with my colleagues on the committee in order to do so. because that did not increase the number of immigrants coming from any country and because there was some confusion in the early stages 6f the working out of the immigration act. Now. this resolution comes up on a different basis. The estrictive act has been in operation for quite a long period. The authorities have had every opportunity to work out its details and the nations of Europe have had every opportunity to knov what the quotas were. because they have been published and sent over. and the steamship companies. who have persisted in violating every immigration law that has ever been on the statute books of this country. not only knew about it. and yet they have taken advantage of what they thought would be a failure of those charged with the enforcement of this act ini America to live up to tie law. and so the immigrants have conitinued to come in excess of the quotas.