Are we not more often swayed by partisanship and unAmerican prejudice and bigotry. than the executive branch or our courts? Let me relate to you. briefly. the legislative history of the provision. which I trust we shall be afforded the opportunity to consider. In the immigration law of 1924 it was provided that beginning on July 1. 1927. the quotas should be based on "national origins." rather than on the census of 1890. That clause. coming from nowhere. with no disclosed parentage. was defeated in this House. but was put into the act in the Senate without debate and jammed through this House and became a law. Since that time three great departments of our Government. the Departments of State. of Labor. and of Commerce. have said. after studying the question. that it is impracticable and practically impossible of being carried into effect. We have a message from the President with the expert information that it can not be done. and in view of our own Committee on Immigration. which first wanted to repeal it entirely. finally indorsed the Senate bill to postpone its operations one year in order to see if by study and investigation the provision call be worked out. Gentlemen. that is the situation which confronts you. We Members of this House who believe in equality and fairness. who believe that this provision should not be carried out at this time because it is not only impracticable. but more than all unAmerican. demand an opportunity to express our will by our vote. and I can assure you that the Democrats from the State of New York anxiously await the opportunity to vote for the bill.
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Immigration immigration