gathered from official sources and showed that emigrants from Austria, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Roumania, Switzerland, Turkey, Czecho-Slovakia, England, Servia, and Spain were awaiting their opportunity to emigrate to the United States. From Italy were the largest number of prospective emigrants, but the recommendation of the Department that the greatest proportion were inimical to the best interests of the United States Government was not because of their communist tendencies" but to their standard of living and their characteristics which make them unassimilable." The same conclusion was reached in respect to the Polish emigrant especially in regard to his lowered moral standards. Germany was mentioned in that two million people were estimated by the German Government to be ready to emigrate if passport restrictions were removed. EXTENSIVE HEARINGS HELD PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE OF THE PERCENTAGE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1921 Extensive hearings were held in the Senate in contemplation of the passage of the Johnson Immigration Bill and, on January 3, 1921, the rumor in some official circles that Italy wished an extension of time before the bill should go into operation, was discussed.10 Chairman Colt on that day informed the Senate Committee that a representative of the Italian Government was in New York interviewing steamship companies and that he was pleading for an extension of time of six months instead of the present sixty days' allowance, provided by the bill, in order that Italy should send those immigrants to the United States who were prepared to leave. ITALY DIRECTS ITS NATIONALS TO BRAZIL As a result of this pending legislation in the United States, it was reported at this time that Italy had been negotiating treaties with Brazil and other countries in order that its nationals should be directed where they would be more welcome.11 ITALY AND CHINA FAVORED Devising Methods FOR DETECTION OF CRIMINALS' RECORDS AT PORTS OF EMBARKATION At these same Senate hearings in January, 1921, Mr. Frederick H. Wallis, Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island, New York, raised the question as to whether or not methods for the discovery of an immigrant's penal or political record at the port of embarkation had been discussed. In reply as to whether that procedure had ever been attempted, Senator Dillingham stated that at his request the Secretary of State had taken up the matter with foreign 10 COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION United States Senate Le Baron B. Colt, Rhode Island, Chairman William R. Dillingham, Vermont. John F. Nugent, Idaho. 11 U. S. Senate Hearings, Emergency Immigration Legislation, January, 1921, p. 15 and p. 550. governments, and he understood that China and Italy had alone been favorable to the plan.12 SELECTIVE IMMIGRATION POLICY ADVANCED BY EDUCATORS In speaking before the Senate Hearing on Immigration, January 14, 1921, Prof. Jeremiah Jenks favored the selective immigration policy provided for by the pending bill. In his belief European immigrants, unselected and without being properly distributed, tend to lower our standards of living instead of raising them.13 Again, in speaking at a special meeting of the New York State Chamber of Commerce, January 20, 1921, on the Johnson Immigration Bill, he maintained that "the standard of living of the masses in each community must be preserved, and it were better to have somewhat slower growth in the accumulation of wealth than to have any lowering in our standards of living," and insisted that there was need for a selective test for persons at the port of embarkation and a proper distribution of the alien at the port of entry in the United States. In conclusion, he felt that if immigrants come in such great numbers "they depress our standard of living and should be debarred, but on the other hand if those who come in are the types which we desire, then our standards will improve." 14 In appearing before the Senate on January 19, 1921, Mr. J. H. Patten of The Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, stated that the organization-composed of local, state and national camp — adopted a resolution at its annual session in favor of the present bill at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on August 25, 1920. The Pennsylvania State Camp, representing 132,267 members, also urged the passage of the Emergency Immigration legislation for they believed with Washington "in raising standards here to which not only men, but nations, will aspire." 15 12 See U. S. Senate Hearings, Emergency Immigration Legislation, January, 1921, P. 173. 13 Ibid., p. 291. 14 New York State Chamber of Commerce Monthly Bulletin, January, 1921. 15 United States Senate Hearings, Emergency Immigration Legislation, Jan. 19, 1921, pp. 547-8. DILLINGHAM PERCENTAGE BILL SUBSTITUTED FOR JOHNSON MEASURE The Johnson measure, after being considered by the Senate, was refused and for it was substituted the Dillingham Percentage Bill, which passed that body in February, 1921. Members of both houses then met in conference with the result that the House receded from its position and accepted the Dillingham Percentage Bill. The bill immediately was passed by both houses and was presented to President Wilson for his signature before his retirement from office. However, the Dillingham Bill was not then enacted into law, as it received the President's pocket veto. PERCENTAGE IMMIGRATION TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN On April 27, 1921, Mr. Johnson introduced the Dillingham Percentage Bill in the House and again much discussion was aroused over its provisions. Section 2 of the Immigration Bill embodies the following princi ples: It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States to admit annually only so many law-abiding immigrants of any national or racial group as may be capable of being so employed as not to endanger the normal American standard of living, labor and wages. . . .' LEGISLATORS FAVOR PENDING PERCENTAGE IMMIGRATION LAW The point is made by Mr. William Newell Vaile of Colorado, on April 20, 1921, that if increased production of goods in the United States may only be obtained" by lowering our standards of living and replacing the English language with a medley of other tongues," then this request costs too high and he favors the further restriction of immigration by the three per cent law of 1921.17 As an upholder of the doctrine that "America is first for Ameri 16 Act of May 19, 1921. Dubbed the Percentage Immigration Law. Is merely supplementary to the Act of February 5, 1917 (Literacy Test Measure), but is more restrictive in meaning and intent. 17 Congressional Record, 67th Cong., Vol. LXI, p. 509. |