Speech #820211825

So our figure is roughly onesixth of 1 percent of 150.000.000. or at the rate of about 250.000 a year. Let me say I think this is a much more realistic figure. The framers of the 1924 act evidently thought that the country could absorb immigration equal to onesixth of 1 percent a year with safety. They did not want to take 1 percent a year. as had been the case from 1900 to 1910. but they thought the country could take onesixth of 1 percent a year with safety. and that was undoubtedly what was behind the 1924 act. restrictive as it was. That was the test rather than the total number of 150.000.