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Show WOULD PUT CURB 8? o ran 111 Measure Far-Reaching in Scope Is Presented by Johnson to Congress. Deportation of Undesirables and Rigid Entrance Are Among the Restrictions. WASHINGTON, Aug. 20. A bill to stop immigration for two years and a bill to deport all aliens who drew their first papers in order to escape military service during the war was introduced today by Chairman Johnson of tho house immigration committee. . After the end of the two-year suspension sus-pension period aliens would be entitled to admission to tho United States only under a passport or oh their written declaration to become American citizens. citi-zens. They would bo required to register regis-ter annually until citizenship was conferred. con-ferred. Fraudulent entry would be punishable pun-ishable by five years' imprisonmnent and $1000 fine, to be followed by deportation. deporta-tion. Tew exceptions to the prohibition of immigration for two years are permitted permit-ted by the bill. Alien rosidents of the United States might send for their parents, grandparents, unmarried or widowed daughters, or sons under 16 years old, unless thc.v relative bad been alien enemies, for whom special authorization for admission would be required. Skilled labor also might be imported under existing law, and foreign for-eign officials., tourists, students and professional men might come into the country temporarily undor passports. Bill Very Drastic One. The bill is regarded as the most drastic dras-tic measure of tho kind every presented pre-sented to congress. Adoption of the bill would mean, its fraiuers say, literal fulfillment of the so-called "gentlemen's agreement" between be-tween the United States and Japan with respect to immigration and would keep out Japanese coolies. Under the Koot-Takehira agreement Japan is obligated to send no coolies to this country, but it is charged the records disclose that they arrive by the thousands, with passports as merchants, students and the like. Once here, it is alleged, they remain, send for "picture brides," raise families, and (heir children chil-dren become citizens of tho United States by right of birth. Eepresentative Johnson, in charge of the preparation of the bill, said the requirement that aliens landing at American ports must have passports with a time limit will break up the great inflow of foreigners. The bill provides that aliens coming within exemption clauses of the present law must obtain passports from their own governments, visced by consular agents of the United States, and limited as to time. But the bill does not stop there. Aliens, who under present laws are eligible to citizenship, would be permitted per-mitted to come to the United States without passports, providing they state in writing their belief that they intend to reside here and become citizens. More Rigid Regulations. They must agree to register at least once a year, failure to do so being a cause for deportation. Failure to take out first papers at the end of two years' residence also is cause for deportation. de-portation. After taking out papers, aliens must remain here five years for final citizenship, citizen-ship, with a time allowance off for knowledge of the elements of the American Amer-ican plan of government and proficiency pro-ficiency in the F.nglish language. If an alien does not acquire citizenship in eight years he is sent home. The committee hopes to provide a plan by which citi ens of contiguous territory, Canada and Mexico, may visit the United States on cards issued annually. an-nually. Chairman Johnson is trying to have congress send a special enmmittee comprising com-prising eastern and middle western members to the Pacific coast to study the Japanese situation. "We want the east to study it," he said. Members of the committee say it is not likely a lull suspending immigration immigra-tion for any stated period could pass congress now. A yar ego it could have passed, they add. There is a demand, de-mand, according to members, for a provision pro-vision in the new bill for deportation nf aliens who withdraw their first papers in order to avoid service with the armed forces of the United ?tatc3. |
