WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1930

House or REPRESENTATIVES,
ComMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION,
Washington, D. C.
The committee met in the committee room, No. 483, House Office
Building, at 11.15 o’clock a. m., Hon. Albert Johnson (chairman),
presiding.
The CaarrmMaN. We will take up the hearing on immigration. Mr.
Simmons, you may proceed, first giving your name and vour business.

STATEMENT BY JOHN F. SIMMONS, CHIEF OF THE VISA OFFICE,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON. D. C.

The CrarrMaN. Answer this question, first: Do you see any reason
why, since the United States has Chinese exclusion as one form of
sxclusion and further restriction by law was effected through the provisions
 of the 1917 Burnett Act, and since complete oriental exclusion,
except as provided in the exceptions, was made permanent in the
{924 act, Congress should not have another form of restriction?
Mr. Simmons. I think that it is very advisable, sir, in one form or
another, to restrict undue immigration from the Western Hemisphere.
The CmairmaN. You are perfectly sure that the fourth form of
restriction would be proper for Congress to enact?
Mr. Simmons. The fourth form being?
The CaairMAN. Being entirely different from that of computing
quotas.
Mr. Simmons. I think that the problem should be analyzed very
carefully before we decide that it is necessary to impose further
quotas to effect restriction.
The CuairmMaN. These bills do not contemplate changing the
European quota system in any way at all, and no doubt in time we
will have tables read showing the quotas that are prorated among the
countries of this hemisphere which are charged to countries of the
Old World. In that case, I would like to ask you how such a country
as Great Britain prorates the quota among its states, say with
Malta? 4
Mr. Simmons. That is a question of distribution.
The CrairMan. Is it decided—how?
Mr. Simmons. That quota is controlled by the office of Consul
General at London.
The Cratrman. Of the United States?
Mr. Simmons. Of the United States.
LL Ca, Does he state what percentage shall be given to
alta’