Speech #700107798

Mr. Chairman. within a short time after the 1924 quota restriction law was enacted. civic organizations and. especially. the womens organizations of America. appealed to Congress that the law be amended by eliminating some of the extremely harsh and unjust provisions. Extra and special appeals have been made to hunmanize the law. so as to enable the reuniting of families. Such organizations as the national board of the Young Womens Christian kssociation of the United States. repre911.5 sented by Mrs. Harry M. Bremmer. tire Nationai Catholic Welfare Conference and Council of Men. the National Council of Jewish Women. the Federation of Labor of America. the National Womens Trade League. the American Jewish Coinmittee and Congress appeared before the committee and so clearly and strongly demonstrated the need to humanize the law. so as to make possible the reunion of the families. that I firmly believed that the committee would not ignore the extrmordinary strong pleas arnd arguments and would act favorably. Notwithstanding the fact that about 30 Members introduced bills to amend the 1024 immigration law to make possible the reunion of separated families. the committee instead of acting favorably upon these countrywide requests and appeals reported the :.ocalled Jenkins bill. H. R. 12816. and gave the country the implication that the reuniting of families would be made possible by this bill. Therefore. I feel it to be my duty to call attention to the fact that the Jenkins bill does not embody the remedial and relief legislation sought and requested by these civic and labor organizations of the country. All it does in addition to the present immigration law is to grant a few husbands and the children of American citizens up to 21 years of age a nonquota status. It gives a preferential status up to 50 per cent to the parents of American citizens. skilled agriculturists and their children up to 18 years of age. and the remainder of the quota to the wives and children of the lawfully admitted aliens who have established a permanent residence in the United States. Many Members and people who are not thoroughly familiar with this proposed legislation may actually believe that relief is being accorded to these unfortunate aliens who have for years sought to bring over their wives and children. but such.