NATIONAL ORIGINS PROVISION OF IMMIGRATION LAW
Senator Rerp. But is the distribution of the quotas among those
countries accurate ?
Mtr. Bocas. I would not like to pass judgment on the work of the
previous committee, but this ean very properly be said: It wags intended
 to be a temporary provision, and they had a very short time in
which to do the work. Further——
Senator Coprranp. Pardon me, what was it you said about a
temporary provision ?
Mr. Bocas. The present quota basis; and they had to do their
work in a period of two or three months have forgotten how
long, but it was a very short time. Further than that, a considerable
 body of information has been produced since then which is
applicable to the determination of quotas on the present basis. A
large body of information which we have unearthed in the national
origins study would be applicable to improving certain of the present
 quotas. The error in the present quotas, whatever it may be—
and there must be error in any quotas, not always demonstrable, but
it is certainly there—is due wholly to the geographical adjustments
which have to be made, because of the changes of boundaries; and
as all of the present quotas are derived from one source, whatever
error there is in handling that one source affects the quotas concerned
very largely.
The CrairmaN. The quotas have been in use since 1924, have they
not?
Mr. Boges. Yes, sir.
The Cramrman. They are fixed now and definite ?
Mr. Boos. Yes, sir.
The Cramman. You would not recommend their change?
Mr. Boees. I am not at all concerned with the expediency of
changing the quotas.
The Cmarman. But the quotas as fixed are reasonably accurate,
are they not?
Mr. Bocas. They were done as accurately as it was possible to do
at the time. .
The Cumamrman. I have no doubt about that. I am not questioning
 anybody’s accuracy or desire to be accurate, But they are reasonably
 accurate, are they not?
Mr. Boaes. I have not really attempted to recompute any of them
with any care.
The Cmamman. Then you would be unable to answer ¢
Mr. Boges. At the present time.
The Cuaremax. Who certifies those quotas; the State department
does, does it not? .
Mr. Boggs. The three secretaries and the committee appointed
under them to do so. . Co .
The Cmamrman. All right. Now, they have been certified; and
under them we have been admitting those who come from foreign
shores ?
Mr. Boos. Yes, sir. }
The Carman. And definitely we have done that since the passage
of the law in 1924?
Mr. Bocas. Yes, sir.