Speech #680073881

It is not artificial between the groups of countries. I have said it is not possible to adopt a system exactly equal between all individual countries unless you do one of two things---either base the quota professedl- on its existing contribution or exclude immigrants altogether. We may yet be compelled to do the latter. If the gentleman will excuse me. I would like to proceed a little further on this if I have the time. It will be apparent on very brief consideration that no census base would work out complete proportional equality between all countries individually. Thus. taking the examples given in the chart. it will be noted that under the 1890 census base Great Britain and Ireland. which have furnished 60.74 per cent of our present (1920) white population. have been allowed to furnish. under the present law. 21.61 per cent of our immigration for the last three years. Under the pending bill the British Isles would be entitled to furnish 38.87 per cent of our new immigration. This is nearly twice what the British Isles can get under our present law. but It is still less than twothirds of their "share" on the basis of their total contribution to our population. Italy. which is one of the loudest complainers. is cut a little. because the great bulk of her immigration came very late. not oly after 1890 but considerably after that date. She has fur-