National origins provision of immigration law

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1796380105

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-196168

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: National origins provision of immigration law

Place of publication:: Washington

Publisher:: Gov. Pr. Off.

Year of publication:: 1929

Scope:: III, 171 S

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Statement of Edward R. lewis, chairman executive committee, Immigration Restriction Legislation, Chicago, Ill.

Collection:: Economics Books

NATIONAL ORIGINS PROVISION OF IMMIGRATION LAW 87 san make your selection just as well then as before, but you have got to have something to reduce numbers first. You now have an automatic system which reduces the number, so they come up slowly and each one examined has just as much chance in the selection by quality tests after you have the quota, but how you «an ever distribute as to countries except on the quota basis I do not know. When you come to the quota basis, I think the question of the method of selecting it by the population of the foreign countries is arbitrary and has no relation to this country. Now, when you come to the 1890 foreign-born method, that gives a fairer test of the total population than the 1920 foreign born, that is just an arbitrary date. It was only selected as an expedient; and it is bound to get more arbitrary and more out of date. Senator Coreraxp. Is not this an arbitrary method that we are proposing here? Mr. Lewis. I do not think so. The Crairman. When you conclude your answer, I want to ask you a question as to your views generally. Do vou believe in total restriction? Mr. Lewis. I do not know, sir. A few years ago I would have said no. 1 would not say. I think it may be a difficult thing. The Cratraan. So that you would prevent any immigration at all to this country at the present time, if you had the power. Mr. Lewis. Well, IT am not ready to say that yet. I say I am fooking on it with a great deal more sympathy than I used to. ‘The CrratrMaN. Your inclination is that way at present? Mr, Lewis. Well, T would not quite like to say that. It is a ques- aon I want to give very serious consideration to. I certainly do not feel impelled. T mean, I look on it as a question I want to give very serious consideration to. I certainly do not feel impelled by that idea, although it may be necessary. This country, seems to me— I have been studying it until lopsided, as some of my friends say I am Jopsided—a man with one idea. Maybe T am. The Cramyax, I want to ascertain the fact, if it is so. Mr. Lewrs. T think there are tremendous times of distortion in sur public and confusion; for instance, you take this crime situation. [ have read any number of articles that claimed we had passed the point. But Chief Justice Taft said bluntly just what I have been thinking, that one of our causes of crime is our diverse population. He is not criticizing any particular racial group; he simply means that the common-law system of jurisprudence is based on common opinion. By reason of having grown up through a long time, we are a people who understand each other and react in the same way. I do not care if we have the very best immigrants in the world, if they come from 40 different nations they are not going to have the common opinion. The old basis of the common law came out of -onnection with that for one reason. The Cuamman. That is because they retain their old sympathies, retain their old viewpoints, and bring to us an entirely different viewpoint and utterly different sympathy of situation that is at variance with what we are pleased to term the American viewpoint ?

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