The record-union., 1896-12-18
Occupies Attention During Nearly all Of
the Days Session.
Substitute to the House Bill Passed
With Slight Amendments.
The nost Notable of Which Provides
That the Act Shall Not Apply to
Cuban Refugees During the Exist
ING Trouble in the Island-The
House Passes the Usual Bills Pre-
paratory to the Inaugural Ball.

paratOry to the Inaugural Ball.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE bill
which passed the House of Representa-
tives last session, and for which sub
stitute was reported by the Senate COM
mittee, to amend the immigration laws
of the United States, occupied the at
tention of the Senate during nearly the
whole of to-day's session. The substi-
tUte was amended in some particulars,
the most notable amendment being one
providing that the Act shall not apply
to Cuban refugees during the existing
troubles in Cuba, and then it was pass
ed by a vote of - to 10, and a confer
ence asked with the House.
The bill as passed, in addition to
those classes excluded under existing
laws, all persons over 16 years of age
who cannot read and write the lam
guage of their native cuntry or some
other language, but it does not exclude
the wife, child. parent or grandparent
of an admissible immigrant, notwith-
standing their ineligibility to read or
write.
A motion by Hale (R.) of Maine that
when the Senate adjourn it adjourn
until Monday, was agreed to without
division.
The House amendments to the Senate
bill as TO the lands of the Pacific Rail-
road Companies were laid before the
Senate, and We're, on motion of Hill
O.) of New York non-concurred in, and
a conference asked, Senators Hill. Platt
R) of Connecticut, Clark (R) of Wy
oming being appointed conferrees on
the part of the Senate.
In presenting a lot of petitions from
Alabama declaring that there was no
lawful State Government in that State,
Chandler (R.) of New Hampshire col
ided with Allen in reference to the
failure of Aliens resolution of inquiry
On that subject last session, Chandler
asserting that the resolution had failed
because of some Incorporate remarks
Of Aliens questioning the motives OF
Republican Senators, and Allen denying
that. but asserting that he had had
grave suspicion that the resolution
never would be acted on in good faith
Oh the Republican side of the chamber.
After the passage of two Senate bills
on the calendar (aS to accounts of army
officers who were graduates of West
Point Military Academy, and for the
relief of Major William Maynadier,
the bill to amend the immigration laws
was taken up.
The amendment was modified so as
to make the exclusion paragraph read:
"All persons over 16 years of age who
cannot read and write the language Of
their native country or some other lam
guage, but an admissible immigrant
over such age of 1G may bring In with
him or send for his wife or parent or
grandparent or minor child or grand
child, Notwithstanding their inability
t. read and write
Morgan ODD of Alabama moved to
amend the bill SO as that it shall not
apply to immigrants from Cuba The
demands of humanity, he said. were OBJ
vious in relation to Cuba. The United
States could not afford to send back a
Cuban to the merciless grasp of the
men from whom he had escaped. The
exception, he argued. could be made
without interfering with the general
clause in treaties as to the most ia
vcred nations
Hoar (R) of Massachusetts, suggest
edthat the better way would be a pro-
vision authorizing the Secretary of
State to provide for the admission of
immigrants fleeing from war or politi-
cal oppression or in consequence of po-
litical disorder.
After a long discussion Morgan $
amendment was modified so 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 present disorders
there provided that such persons have
heretofore been inhabitants of that
island" and was agreed to-yeas "A,
nays 6-the negative votes being given
by Senators Caffery Cd Of Louisiana,
Hill CD of New York, Lindsay CD) of
Kentucky Palmer Cd of Illinois. Pet
tigrew (Sn. R.) of South Dakota and
Walthall CD OF Mississippi
Elkins (R) of West Virginia offered
an amendment for the collection of a
head tax of so on all immigrants com
irg TO the United States in vessels not
CT the United States.
Nelson (R) of Minnesota opposed the
amendment, saying that he would rather
vote to prevent immigration altogether
than vote for an amendment that would
be a tax on common humanity, and
that would make the United States the
most mercenary and abject Of the ma
tions Of the earth.
r,lkins spoke in support of his amend
ment. urging that the American steam
ship lines could bring in all the immi-
grants. and that. besides, ii was desir-
able TO restrict immigration.
Chandler opposed the amendment.
saying that he was willing to aid the
American steamship lines, but he was
not willing to have head tax imposed
on immigrants
Perkins (R.) Of California favored the
amendment the effect of which, he
said. would be to make gift of Slu TO
the immigrant who came to the United
states in ship flying "Old Glory" and
also to give the immigrant his first les
son in American citizenship.
Hill tD) OF New York declared that
in his opinion the amendment was en-
tirely in the wrong direction. 1t had
been defended on the high and lofty
ground of protection. 1t was the prin-
ciple of protection run mad. 1t would
be better to provide that there should
be no immigration at all.