I have offered this amendment. Mr. President. because there are some of those who believe in rigid restriction of immigration. who at the same time feel that a basis founded upon the census returns of some year other than the year 1910 might york an unfavorable discrimination as against people pf certain nationalities. For example. under the present law there are entitled to come into this country from Italy 42.000 immigrants. Under the 2 per cent quota based on the census of 1890 that 42.000 would be reduced to 4.000. and under the amendment which I now propose it would be 14.000. It is likewise with various other nationalities. It is not necessary to elaborate upon that. I am one of those who believe in rigid restriction of immigration. but I am more concerned about holding the number down to a minimum than I am about undertaking to select upon racial and national lines. Therefore. I call the attention of the Senate to this amendment. first. because it Is not discriminative. it does not give any one nation advantage over another. and. secondly. being fair and equitable. at the same time it provides the lowest quota that is afforded by any of the different propositions pending before the Senate. So Senators who actually want to restrict immigration can vote for this amendment in the knowledge that it will give the smallest quota afforded by any of the different plans. Under it the quota will be approximately 120.000 a year. that provided under the Reed amendment. so called. will be 150.000. or 80.000 more. and that provided under the 2 per cent quota. based on the census of 1890. commonly known as the Johnson bill. will be 169.000. Therefore. those who wish to restrict immigration and at the same time enact a law which will be fair and equitable should vote for this amendment. I ask* for a vote. Mr.
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