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Mr. JENKINS. Germany has a quota of about 35,000 and only 2,000 of those are taken up by preferences.

Assistant Secretary HUSBAND. Less than that.

Mr. JENKINS. That leaves Germany 33,000.

The CHAIRMAN. The present quota of Germany is 25,957.

Mr. JENKINS. Take away from that number 2,000 and there remain 23,957. We would allow Germany only 2,396 for open immigration?

Assistant Secretary HUSBAND. Yes. The nonquota and preference classes are not in this calculation. They are taken care of outside of the proposed 10 per cent limitation.

Mr. JENKINS. Is not the proposal to take 10 per cent of the quota of every country and give it to technicians?

Assistant Secretary HUSBAND. No.

The CHAIRMAN. Allow it to all comers. (Discussion off the record was had.)

Assistant Secretary HUSBAND. You gentlemen who were connected with immigration legislation at the time the quota system was first under consideration will remember that one of the arguments, one of the very strong arguments, advanced in favor of the quota plan was that in times when immigration was not needed, when it might be detrimental to the United States, that by simply moving the percentage of those who could come you would suspend or reduce immigration for any given period. It seems to me that this bill simply proposes to carry out that idea. As I have said, one of the very strong points stressed when the quota method of restriction was under consideration was that you could lower or raise the percentages to meet needs or situations as they arose and the available quota would always be on the same level with respect to every country. There would be no discrimination against any country.

Mr. JENKINS. Why not allow this new seed immigration outside of the preference-why not say that 5 per cent or 10 per cent of those shall be placed in the technician class and let the Secretary make those selections?

Assistant Secretary HUSBAND. I am afraid you would get it so complicated that it would not be understood. The present general immigration law, including the contract labor law, would not be modified in any particular by this proposed legislation. Every restriction in effect now would remain in effect. The number who could come would simply be reduced to a minimum if the amendment is adopted.

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Of the whole of our European immigration? Assistant Secretary HUSBAND. Yes; of new immigration from every

source.

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Why are we attempting this new procedure? Assistant Secretary HUSBAND. The theory of this bill, as I understand it, is that the present flow of immigration is detrimental to employment conditions in the United States at the present time. Mr. SCHNEIDER. Would this proposal include the Republic of Mexico?

Assistant Secretary HUSBAND. Yes; and all New World countries. also.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you any other useful information for the committee, Mr. Secretary?

Assistant Secretary HUSBAND. I have attempted to point out what the effect the proposed legislation would have on our present flow of immigration from all sources-from New World countries as well as from overseas. In my opinion the present unemployment situation would be benefited to some extent, and in some parts of the country to a very considerable extent, by the adoption of this legislation. I want to emphasize again that such legislation would not interfere with the admissions of tourists or temporary visitors for business or pleasure; that it would not hamper, but rather would promote, the reunion of families. It would permit and even facilitate the admission of experts who might be honestly needed in American industry, but on the other hand it would delay for at least one year the coming of all new immigration that might be detrimental to employment conditions in this country.

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