But. being the product of human effort. it is by no means perfect. The committee who framed it does not claim that it is perfectthat it is the last word in imnmigration legislation. The time is not ripe for the establishment of a permanent immigration policy. We have not had an opportunity to make a sufficiently exhaustive study of the facts and the postwar condition here and in Europe to qualify us to establish a permanent and economically sound and politically wise immigration policy for the United States. Our legislation must of necessity be more or less experimental and tentative. I would not charge the committee with racial prejudice. but there is no gainsaying that a large and respectable element of our population look upon the quota provisions of this bill as discriminatory against the races from whence they sprang. They sincerely believe that if Congress should adopt the comnmittee quota proposal it would be giving official sanction to the socalled ethnic doctrine of alleged race inferiority of the eastern and southern races of Europe. Congress should not. unless it is a matter of impelling national necessity. enact the proposed quota provision into law and thereby give any justification to the charge that it is actuated in legislating on immigration by racial prejudices. No fairminded man will accuse the memlbership of the United States Chamber of Comumerce of alienism. They are Americans all. Its immigration committee has carefully investigated this subject. One of its members is the son of President Garfield. That committee makes the following recoinmnendation. which ought to appeal to the good sense of Congress: * * * * * 5 * The committee further recommends:
Identified stereotypes
Accusation that the bill discriminates against eastern and southern European races based on alleged race inferiority.