Speech #680076603

We can not intelligently consider the question of imnigratlon without calling to our assistance some statistics and figures. Our total population. according to the 1920 census. was 105.000000. There were practically 58.000.000 native whites of native parentage. approximately 37.000.000 foreign born or of foreignborn- or nsixed parentage. approximately 10.00.00 colored people. While there are 37.000.000 foreign born or of foreignborn parentage. the number of foreign born Is placed at 14.000.000. Of this 14.000.000 foreign born less than half are American citizens. and 1.500.000 of our foreignborn populaition can not speak English. Foreignlanguage newspapers in the United States have about 5.000.000 subscribers. There are today in the United States nearly 13.000.000 persons over 21 years of age who were born In foreign lands. We are told that since 1890 immigrants have been landing at the average rate of 1.000.000 per year. We are also reliably Informed that there are now 600.000 In Russia who have made application for passports to America. and that 70.000 of this number are now in Warsaw alone. seeking transportation to our shores. and we must not forget that we now have approximately 6.000.000 aliens in our midst who have not taken the oath of allegiance to the American flhg. and that we must assimilate this number before we take ol more. The Johnson bill (H.1. 7995). which we are now considerIng. is a splendid measure. and the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization is entitled to the thanks of the country for the careful and conscientious study given to this important matter and for this wellconsidered and vellprepared measure. By the terms oil this legislation the law of 1917 is preserved as our basic immigration law. The feature of numerical limitation. as set forth in the act of 1921. is retained. The number of Immigrants to be admitted In the future Is based upon the census of 189)0 instead of the census of 1910. A base quota of 100 is permitted to each country. and to this quota is added 2 per cent of the number of nationals from that country re.iding In the United States according to the census of 1890. Wives of American citizens and their children under 18 years of age. as well as parents over 55 years of age. are admitted independent of the quota. Preliminary examinations of immigrants vill be made overseas. and only. those will be permitted to embark for America as immigrants who ]lave certificates. and certificates will only be Issued to a number coming within the quota of the particular nationality. so that there will be no more racing of steamers loaded with immigrants. each attempting to get into an American port for the opening of the monthly quota. Those who are permitted to come will be assured of entry so far as quota is concerned. The administrative features of the bill are workable. Unnecessary hardships are not placed upon the immigrant. He Is plainly told Under what terms he can enter this country. The burden of proof Is placed on the alien rather than on the United States. and while the measure is clear and explicit and not burdensome on the immigrant at the same time it is an American bill and is prepared with the idea of caring for our own household. True. Americans have no prejudice against persons born in any foreign land.