Speech #680070607

I shall place in the RECORD the amendments I propose to offer. so that the House may have an opportunity to study them and determine their effect on the bill if adopted. I am opposed to that part of the bill which provides for nonquota iiimigrants. I see no reason. if we make the proper exception in the section defining what is meant by an immigrant. for having any nonquotas. I see no reason why an Immigrant who is the unmarried child under 15 years of age. father or mother over 55 years of age. or the husband or wife of a citizen of the United States should not be counted in the quota. but I do believe that in the issuing of immigration certificates preference should be given this class. At the end of section 3 of the Johnson bill I shall propose a new section. as follows: SEc. -. In the Issuance of immigration certificates preference shall be given (a) to an immigrant who is the unmarried child under 18 years of age. father or mother over 55 years of age. or husband or wife of a citizen of the United States. (b) to an immigrant having such qualifications by reason of occupation and training as fill the particular requireimnits of the United States in Industry and agriculture. such class of immigrant to be designated from time to time by the Commissioner General of Immigration. with the approval of the Secretary of Labor. and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed. The adoption of this amendment. especially paragraph (b). would make this bill a real selective measure. The bill in its present form practically means the counting of certificates by the consuls. instead of the counting of the aliens. Of course. it is il a ininner selective ii that each alien applying for an immigration certificate sliall make application ill such form as shall be by regulations prescribed. and the application itself Call call for certain data. so lit that way the consul will know something of the character. habits. occupation. and so forth. of the alien seeking to obtain the certificate. My amendment. however. proposes to give to the Conmmissioner General of Iiamigration. with the approval of the Secretary of Labor. the right to make preferences in the issuing of Immigration certificates. Ill other words. If we were short of skilled labor In any section of the United States. that fact would be made known to the Department of Labor. The Commissioner General of Iniligration could then authorize the consuls abroad to give preferences to a number of skilled laborers to fill the requirements of tle United States. and the same would be true in any other industry or in agriculture. Tills would give us a real selection. at least of the class of immigrants we permitted to come here. and this. taken in connection with the application that the alien would have to submit. would. In liy judgment. strengthen this bill a great deal. as to the selective feature. Section 4 of the proposed Johnson bill defines a nonquota inniigrant. and under that section there might be no end to the number of immigrants permitted to come to tills country. The effect of my amendment would be to make this a real restrictive measure as well as a selective one. Every inmigrant coming to this country would be counted under the quota and we would know with reasonable certainty the exact number periiitted to land in any month or year. Paragraphs (b) and (c) under section 4 could be made as exceptions in section 3. under the definition of an Immigrant. Paragraph (g) uuder section 4 is covered by exception No. 2 in section 3. so I see no reason to retain in the Johnson bill either section 4 or 5. At time end of section 27 I shall propose a new section to be known as 27 and to read as follows: