134 NATIONAL ORIGINS PROVISION OF IMMIGRATION LAW 
who were here in 1890—and ignore all of us who were born in this 
country, like you and I? 
Mr. Riper. The answer is that I do not think it ought to be based 
on either one. 
Senator Reep. Then, you do not like either the 1890 basis or na- 
tional origins? 
Mr. Roper. If you ask me personally, I do not like the 1890 basis 
or national origins. I think there ought to be a better plan worked 
out than either. But between the two, it is much better to take the 
basis as of 1890, let us say, when you and I were in the country when 
we know what was here, than to go back 140 years and say we will 
base it on something that we ourselves do not know anything about, 
Senator Reep. Would you say it is solely based on the census of 
140 years ago? 
Mr. Rmoer. No; I understand that it goes up to the year 1826, 
if I am correct. 
Senator Reep. Oh, no; it takes in the foreign born reported in the 
1920 census. 
Mr. Rioper. True; but it really goes back to an earlier time. 
Senator Remp. For part of the population it must, necessarily. 
Mr. Riper. I think for a large part. 
Senator Rep. It also gives equal security to the foreign born who 
reported here in 1920. 
Mr. Roper. True; but from the fact that there is such a varia- 
tion between the quotas if they are set up under the other bases it 
shows there is a vast difference, a very important difference. 
Senator Rep. You do not think there are as many people of Ger- 
man origin in the United States as of British origin, do you? 
Mr. Roper. If you want my personal opinion, ves: I do. 
Senator Reep. You think there are? 
Mr. Roper. Yes; I do. 
Senator Reep. It is strange we are not talking German instead 
of English. 
Mr. Roper. No; German has nothing to do with it. The Germans 
came over afterwards. 
Bogor Rrep. But you think there are as many people of German 
stock? 
Mr. Roper. I think there are as many people of German-speaking 
stock—not only German, but stock from Switzerland and Austria. 
Senator Reep. Then, you would give credit to the Germans for the 
Swiss quota ? 
Mr. Rmper. If you want to, call it “credit.” TI mean by that, 1 
am speaking’ now on the theory that if you are going to take English 
stock, if you are going to take Irishmen, Englishmen, and Scotch- 
men and say these are English stock and therefore one group, you 
have got to equally take the Germans. Austrians, the German-speak- 
ing Danes and the Swiss. 
Senator Reep. Then the quotas which we apportion to Switzer- 
land, Denmark, and the other countries from which German stock 
has come? 
Mr. Ripper. Yes, sir. 
Senator Rerp. So all quotas are available to German-speaking peo- 
ple of those countries, are they not ?