Speech #710174700

President. it is my intention to offer an amendment as an additional section to the pending measure. It Is not in conflict with the- bill as it is now pending before the Senate. The bill relates to immigrants coming from countries of the Western Hemisphere. My amendment will deal with the quotas of countries of the Eastern Hemisphere. I have two purposes in nmind: First. To reduce the number of aliens now permitted to come into the United States. Second. To get away from the national origins plan as a basis for immigration and to substitute the national census of 1890. In other words. Mr. President. I propose to restore the quota basis which prevailed in this country from the very iception of the restriction of immigration down to June 30. 1929. except that under my proposal a lesser number of Immigrants will be admitted to our shores. The national origins theory is open to many criticisms. but the most common one Is that it gives preference to those countries in southern Europe that have abandoned selfgovernment and turned their affairs over to dictators. It discriminates against north European countries that have shown real capacity for selfgovernment. We all realize that the change was brought about last June on account of a misunderstanding and a misapprehension. It was argued that on the national origins basis a smaller number of immigrants would be admitted than under a system providing the 1890 census as the basis. While the difference was small. it was sufficient foundation for a real argument. It led the Amerlean Legion to indorse increased immigration from southern Europe. on the theory it was a bill to restrict immigration. The national origins theory was Indorsed by patriotic societies. with the same understanding. or rather. lack of understanding. The bill was acted on hurriedly. and we can not blame busy people for not having a full knowledge of the different laws and plans proposed. but if patriotic societies. Including the American Legion. favor restriction of Immigration. as I know they do. then they will be heartily in favor of the amendment which I propose.