Speech #720121771

Mr. Speaker. the rule provides for the consideration of H. R. 8174. a bill to exempt from the immigration quotas the fathers and mothers. over 60 years of age. of citizens of the United States. That is to say. this bill if enacted into law would admit outside of the quota restrictions the aged fathers and mothers of American citizens provided they were over 60 years of age. The gentleman from Ohio . a member of the Immigration Committee. will offer an amendment which will strike out all after the enacting clause and which provides that the fathers and mothers shall be admitted within the quota without any age limit whatever. His amendment will provide also that from the few countries where there are not sufficient quotas to take care of the fathers and mothers one year shall be allowed for the coming of all such as excess quota. In his opinion. and that of a number of others on the committee. the amendment will clean f:p this matter. which has been pending for a long time. It will not disturb the quota system. It is more generous to the fathers and mothers. we think. than the bill of the chairman. the gentleman from New York . It stops the endless chain. it keeps restriction of immigration within the bounds set by the 1924 act. and provides a way for the fathers and mothers to come as excess quota from a few southeast European countries where there is an excess of these relatives. If this amendment which will be offered under the 5minute rule is adopted. I propose to offer still another amendment which I hope the chairman of the committee will accept. I have not had time to show it to him. The second amendment I want to offer is for the reason. in my opinion. a considerable amount of the charge of distress and failure to let the close relatives come here within quotas is caused not by absence of places in the quotas. because the quotas are not exceeded except in the case of five countries. but is caused by the strict enforcement of the clause of the immigration act of 1917 which prohibits aliens from coming here who might become public charges. This section began to be applied rigidly some two and a half years ago on account of unemployment conditions in the country. increase of bread lines. and the like. and is properly enforced as to proposed new stock in immigrants who are without funds and who. if admitted. would add to the distress and unemployment here. But I am inclined to think that the consuls of the State Department have been a little too rigid in applying the publiccharge clause against certain of these immediate relatives. that is. fathers and mothers. husbands or wives. and minor children under 18. So if we can save the generalquota structure of the 1924 act by providing for admission of fathers and mothers within the legal quotas. and with one years time. which would take care of those from Bessarabia.