The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-18
Immigration BILL
Passes the Senate--Will Largely
Decrease immigration.
FOREIGNERS NOT WANTED
Persons Landing Must be Able
to Read and Right.
THE IGNORANT MUST NOT LAND
Appropriation Bills Under Considera-
tion--Petitions Presented At
lacking Alabama Elec-
ton Laws.

ton Laws.
Washington, ID. c., Dec. 17.-The Sen
ate to-day passed as the special order the
immigration bill, known as the Lodge
hill with new section providing that
tbe exclusion shall not apply to persons
arriving from Cuba during the contlnu-
ance of the present disorders there. The
strength of the bill was greater than had
been expected. As passed the bill amends
the 2 to 10. AS passed the bill amends
the immigration laws as to exclude from
admission to the United States all per-
sons over 16 years Of age who cannot
read and write the language Of their ma
tive country or some other language, but
an admissible immigrant, over the age OF
Is may bring in with him or send for
his wife or parent, or grand-parent, or
minor child or grandchild, notwithstand-
ing the inability to read and write.
For the purpose of testing the ability
of the immigrant to read and write as re-
ouired by the bill, the inspection officers
shall be furnished copies of the constitu-
ton of the United States, printed on
numbered uniform Dashboard slips, each
containing five lines of the constitution
printed in the various languages of the
immigrants in double small pict type.
These slips shall be kept in boxes made
for that purpose and so constructed as TO
conceal the slips from view, each box to
contain slips of but one language, and
the immigrant may designate the Ian
guage in which he prefers the test shall
be made. Each immigrant shall be re-
uuired to draw one of these slips from the
box and read and afterwards write out in
full view of the immigration officers the
five lines printed thereon. Each slip shall
be returned to the box Immediately az
ter the test is finished, and the contents
of the box shall be taken up by an in
spection officer before another drawing is
made. No immigrant failing to read and
write out the slip thus drawn by him
shall be admitted, but he shall be return
ed to the country whence he came at the
expense of the steamship or railroad
company which brought him, as now pro-
yided by law. The inspection officers
shall keep in each box at all times full
number of these printed pasteboard slips
and in case OF each excluded immigrant
shall keep a certified memorandum of the
number of the slip which the immigrant
failed to read or copy out in writing.
The Cuban section added to the bill
provides that the act shall not apply to
persons arriving in the United States
from any port or place in the island of
Cuba during the continuance of the pres
ent disorders there, provided that such
persons have heretofore been inhabitants
of that island.
An amendment by Mr.. Elkins, propos-
ings $40 head tax on immigrants coming
in other than American ships occasioned
considerable debate and was finally
tabled, as were several other amend
ments.
On the final vote the negatives were
Blackburn, Blanchard, Gallery, Lindsay,
Mills, Mitchell, OF Wisconsin, Morgan,
Murphy, Palmer and Villas, all Demo-
Gratis.
The immigrant measure now goes into
conference as the bill passed to-day is a
substitute for the Corliss- Mccall bill
passed by the House year ago.
Mr.. Chandler, Republican, N. H.
presented large number of petitions
from Alabama reciting that by reason of
the election methods prevailing in Ala
bama, the State was without Repubh-
can form OF government at the present
time. 1t brought out of a statement from
Mr.. Allen that the Alabama investigation
proposed by him had been defeated by
hepuDucan votes.
Mr.. Chandler responded that defeat
was due to Mr.. Aliens Encouragement
of his resolution and that the investiga-
ton could be resurrected.
Mr. Call, Democrat, Florida,) offered
q resolution which was referred, appro-
priating $4,000 as a relief fund for the
sufferers from the tidal wave and storm
which occurred on the Florida coast last
October
After brief executive session the Sem
ate adjourned at 4:15 until Monday.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE House to-
day passed the third OF the regular APP
preparation bills, THAT Of the support of
the army and entered upon the consid-
Grafton Of the legislative, executive and
judicial bill. THIS carries $21 ,669, 1863
or $1,000 more than the law for the
current year. Fair progress was made
to-day. 1t is expected that this bill and
the military academy appropriation bill
will be passed before the holiday recess.
The army bill as passed makes no provi-
sion for the army and navy hospital at
Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The House also passed several bills
relating to the District of Columbia and
three resolutions for the use of the flags
of the war department, government re-
seryations, ETC., on the occasion OF Mr..
McKinley's Inauguration.
At sos D. m, the House adjourned.