National Republican., 1888-01-25


ertd. a motion to refer the matter to the
railroads committee (made by Mr.. Davis
was rejected. The original resolution was
modified by increasing the membership OF
the select committee 10 seven, aud IL was
then adopted-yeas 81, nays 15-as folloys
- Yeas1Messrs. Alorich, Allison, Bate Beck,
Blair, Blodgett, Bowen, Butler, Call, Cameron,
Chase, Chandler, Colquitt, Culom, DAVIS,
Dolpb, Edmunds, Eustis, Evarts, Farwell. Frye,
German, Gray, Hale. Hampton, Harris, Haw-
ley, Hurst, hiscSck Hoar Ingslls, Jones S Of Ne
Paddock, Palmer, Pasco, Payne. Platt Plumb,
Pugh. Quay, Sawyer, Sherman, Stewart, stock
bridge, Teller, TnTpie, Vest, Voorhees,, Wilson
Nays-Messrs. Berry, Cockrell. Coke, Davis,
George, Gibson, Jones of Arkansas, kenna, Me-
Pherson, Ransom, Reagan, sabin, salisbury,
Spoonor, Walthall-15.
Mr., Palmer addressed the Senate on the
subject Of the bill introduced by him on the
10th instant, to regulate immigration. lie
dlsclaimed any intention to prevent any
capable, hone t, Industrious, law.ablding
person from seeking home on American
soil. His life had been spent among an ad-
mixture OF forelgn-born and native citizens.
Wis Affiliations social, secular, and re-
hgious-had never been determined by any
test Of country or creed. But that which
might have been desirable fifty years ago
might have now ceased to be so. IL II was
desired that the American worklngmau
should retain his superiority over the under
paid laborer Of europe, such obstacles
would have to be interposed from time to
time us would deter the influx OF those
who would degrade American labor by
undue competition. Much had been
done for the United States and for
American laborers and artisans by the
duties imposed on foreign manufactured
goods, but that very process had stimulated
immigration; ani that immigration tal-
though In the main bentlicent) now threat
ered or continued without selection) to
apgravate existing evils and to lower the
standard Of the American people by
lowering the wages Of those who toiled, so
that 1t was absolutely essential to scrutlnize
with care not only the existing factors but
those which were being constantly In.
iected into the national life. Toe Initial
step had been taken In excluding race
not Homogeneous; ard was 1t not advisa-
bic (he asked TO select the most desirable
from the Aryan races, instead of welcoming
the dregs With the wine? Political econo-
mists differed widely as to the capital value
Of immigrants but taking the estimates
Of Mr.. Edward Young, former chief OF, the
bureau Of statistics, as correct-that the
average value is $S00-the 10, 900, 900 .immi
grants that had come the country hid
contributed $l2,000,000, 900 to its wealth
But vast as had been this contribution to
the national wealth 1t by no means meas
ured the proporiionate value OF immigri-
tlon in The total which represented the civI.
lization, prosperity, and power OF the
country. Immigrants had dug Its canals,
built its railways, burrowed In its mines,
and reclaimed and made fruitful the wilder
nesses. Some Of them had been eminent In
craftsmanship, commerce, sci nee, inyen-
tion, education, art, literature, and morals,
and many OF them, when the life of the
tab n fnA
had consecrated their lives aud fortunes to
its defense.
The census enumerations In 1850 found
G,G70,934 foreign born residents in this
country, and there had been registered B.
5IT,7C0 since Jan. /, 1881, making the pres
ent probable imported population Of the
United States about 100000. There was
no present numerical reason for prohibiting
this influx, iexcept, possibly, the crowd
undue and oppressive competition in wages
was being felt at industrial centers; the
public Institutions were being overtaxed
and worst OF all, there was growth OF
classes, un.American and hard of assimila
tion, which menaced the public peace and
threatened to overturn all established Law
and usage.
try with its GO, ,000,0 coo OF population and III
fifty billions Of wealth had passed beyond
the need Of immigration; and that 1t wal
time to 90 out of the "asylumn business
time to cease to be dumping ground 70
the vicious, delinquent human product o
other nations. The object OF this bill wa
| to provide for the exclusion of dependent
delinquent, and dangerous classes through
| an inspection and investigation In their owl
country instead OF at the ports Of entry, an,
to effect this with the least possible hard
ship or inconvenience to desirable immi
grants.
lie quoted extensively from the United
States consular reports to show the un
desirable character OF large classes OF i'm
migrants from Europe; referred to tn,
| Chicago riot as a result OF the introduction
| cluded by say Ing that, while his bill wat
| not all that could be desired, It was steI
| In the right direction. 1t wonld make tn,
evasion of the existing laws on the sublec
mere difficult, and would compel wba'
was demanded by the enlightened senti
ment Of the American people--a mora
| quarantine.
On the conclusion OF Mr.. Palmers re
marks the bill was referred to the conmitte
on foreign relations.
| The Senate then proceeded to the consid
| Grafton Of the deficiency bill
| Mr., Hale, who had charge of 1t from tn
committee on appropriations, stated tha
the bill had been made up in the llous
mainly on the basis Of the items OF the lik
bill Of last session, which had fl!lel 10
want OF time, that had been agreed upo
in conference, the object being to present
clean bill, to which there would be little o
| no objection and no delay in It's passage
The appropriations committee OF the Sen
ate, recognizing the proprety of that view
had dealt very lightly with the bill, recon
mendiDg but few amendments.
Mr.. Hale, in opposing an amendmen
offered by Mr.. Hawley Ito pay for tn
printing Of postage stamps), took occasio
to say that, while the amendment was
hoped It would not be insisted on. Tn
committee on appropriations had studlousl
avoided adding items to the bill which ha
even been agreed to In conference last ses
sion, but which the House committee or th
House itself had seen fit not to insert IN tn
bill. The Senate committee on approprit
tions had been confronted, as 1t always ha
been, with that attitude on the part {
the House In leaving OFF appropriation bill
items necessary for the carrying on of tn
departments, or items which were obvlDusl
correct and proper. II such items wer
added by the Senate charges OF eXtravI
gance would be made against 1t By I'll
House, and elaborate tables and memt
randa would be got up at the end OF IL
session 10 snow tnat extravaganza eSlsle
In the Senate and not In the House. Sue
state of things was intolerable, and ii
Senate committee on appropriations ha
thought 1t proper not to supply the oml
sions OF the House, but to leave to II
House the full responsibility for not mai
Ing the necessary and proper approprI
tlons.
Without disposipG OF the question th
Senate, at d;35, adjourned.