The record-union., 1894-08-14
1MpoRTANT DEBATE AND ACTION.

The record of debate in the United
States Senate on the anti-anarchist bill
has arrived, and from it we find that the
vital clause of the bill reads, IN alien
anarchist shall hereafter be permitted to
land at any port of the United States, or
DO admitted into the United States; but
this shall not be so construed as to apply
to political refugees or political offenders
other than anarchists"
Yesterday we expressed the fears that
the words political refugees would
prove leak for the escape of much of
the virtue of the bill. The records show
that the words above italicised have been
added, and this removes the objection.
Mr.. Hill declared that the purpose was,
not to make belief in anarchy crime.
but to exclude as dangerous, people
known to be anarchists. He went on to
cay that "An anarchist cannot be a politi-
cal refugee, because he does not believe
in any form of civil or social govern
ment whatever. He is a disturber of the
peace of society. He believes in social
chaos. He believes in having no gov
ernment whatever with which to guide
humanity"
Senator Hill then explained the bill as
requiring the Board of Inquiry created
heretofore under the immigration laws
TO examine the party charged" with
being an anarchist. The board is to
question the immigrant as to his ante
cedents. and may examine his person
for marks, as it is known that some
anarchistic societies put certain stamps
or marks upon the person of members.
The board may accept evidence also as to
the reputation of the immigrant as an
anarchist.
The bill as it passed the House pro-
vided for Consular inquiry and inspec-
ton at points of departure. But the
Secretary of State and the Secretary OF
the Treasury were opposed to such agen-
cies being employed, basing their OBJ
jections upon the adverse report of a
commission appointed by President
Harrison to examine into the question of
Consular inspection of emigrants.
For that reason, therefore. the Com
sular inspection clause was stricken out
and in its place provision is made for in
spection by United States Treasury spe-
cial agents, their salaries being fixed at
$500, the belief being that not more
than nine will be needed. These men
will go abroad and travel wherever neces-
sary and ascertain such facts concerning
anarchists as viii conserve the scheme
of excluding them from the United
States.
1t is provided that the Secretary of the
Treasury may have arrested any alien who
has landed contrary to the immigration
laws, land for cause have the party returned
whence he came. 1t is provided also that
The orders, DEGREES and judgments of for
eign countries and also police notifications
may be taken as prima facie evidence in
determining If one is an anarchist.
A further provision of the bill is that il
an alien is convicted of any crime or mis-
demeanor in any United States Court,
and it appears on the trial that he is an
anarchist, or not attached to the princi-
pies of the Constitution and we'll dis
posed to the peace and good order of the
land, and that his remaining in this
country viii be a menace to the Govern.
ment or to the peace and well being OF
society in general, in addition to thc
penalty for the crime, the party may by Z
Commissioner of Immigration be de
ported to the Country whence he came q
the expense of the United States.
The debate in the Senate was engaged
in to greatest extent by Senators Hoar
Chandler, Palmer, Hill. PETER, Teller
Kyle, Mitchell, Frye. Lodge and Hale
1t covered the whole question of thi
right of expartriation and the right o
aliens to come into and remain in thiI
country, and the right of the Unitet
States to determine who may land on oul
shores and who remain after landing.
may be said that it marked clearly de
ansd new departure, Notwithstanding