“AMERICA FOR AMERICANS”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 7 April 1924, Page 5

“AMERICA FOR AMERICANS”

IMMIGRATION BILL DEBATED

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

WASHINGTON, April 5. A 'debate began in the House of Representatives to-day of the most discussed piece of legislation since prohibition, namely, the Immigration Bill, whereunder the census of 1890 will be the basis of racial groups’ percentage admitted.

Representative Johnson, sponsoring the measure, sounded . the keynote

* America for Americans.” The Oriental exclusion features, however, were omitted The Bill exempts wives, children under eighteen, and parents over 55 of American citizens. Party alignments v.ere broken down in consideration of the measure. The chief opposition comes from New York and other large alien centres, and support from the south and west. The Ku Klux Klan supports it and lias made its sentiments clearly felt-. It is estimated that the Bill will reduce immigration from 350 000 annually to 160,000, chiefly affecting southern-east-ern Europe. Britain and Ireland, however, would have their quotas nearly doubled, due to the change in the census year. Mi* Johnson will shortly also report a measure providing for the deportation of aliens after serving sentences for violations of the liquor and narcotic laws.