Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-05

utterly opposed 10 n system which is con-
%tinuously dragging down the wages of
American labor by the introduction or the
importation of the cheapest, lowest and
most ignorant labor of other countries.
\ short time ago a committee examined
six ship loads Of immigrants from Bre-
men. Antwerp. Amsterdam. Southampton
and Liverpool and of ZOO who were over
Ii years of age 81 were illiterate. What
becomes of such illiterates is answered
10y Carroll ID. Wright. who says that a
per cent Of the population of the slums
of Baltimore. 80 per cent of die Stun pop
ulation of Chicago, % per cent of the
slum population Of New York and 81 per
cent of the slum population of Philadel-
phia are persons of foreign birth or par
entage.
At present there are three methods pro-
posed TO restrict Immigration. One II 10
increase the cost of immigrating by impos-
ing Il tax of from SO 10 $50 on each i'm
migrant. Another is 10y consular inspec-
ton abroad. by which only such immi-
grants as our consuls would approve OF
could enter the country. The educational
test of Senator Lodge will probably, how
ever, be adopted.
They Talk Very Fast.
January has been n busy month for the
congressman who wish TO make it appear
that they are doing their share of the
talking in Congress and are anxious 10
have their constituents aware of the fact.
The circulation of the Congressional Rec
ord has largely increased from the above
cause and thousands of voters have been
placed on the free list.
This publication is supposed 10 contain
q faithful representation of all that trans
pres on the floors of senate and House,
and vet it is a fact tlat there is not Il
greater fake in the world than this docu-
ment which is printed under Government
auspices. Voters who do not know the
means taken 10y their representatives 10
get their speeches published nave no idea
when they read the columns of printed
matter SO well %punctured with "loud APP
plause' that not more than 200 words of
the speech was delivered in the hearing
of other members.
The way the game j. worked is as fol
lows: 4 member wishes 10 secure some
space in the Congressional Record. lie
finds an opportunity in 4 big dbeate on
some important question which is set for
some particular day. Going to the leader
Of his side of the House he begs for ten
or even three minutes. which is granted.
Being recognized by the speaker, the mem
Der proceeds with his speech. Perhaps
he may utter GOO words when the gavel
falls and his time is up. Under the rules,
he is allowed To revise his remarks
and furnish the same to the Record. When
the speech is published it contains several
thousand words and the voters take il
for granted that the speech was really
made.
During a recent debate over the Ding
ley tariff bill. Mr.. Crisp gave three min
utes Of his time 10 Howard of Alabama
and when the Congressional Record pro-
duced the latter's speech it was of suffi
Gent length TO consume thirty minutes in
reading. The next day Mr.. Dingley gave
a half minute of his time 10 a member
from New England and the record show
ed that 5000 words had been delivered
in the thirty seconds, Notwithstanding
the necessary interruptions for loud
applause"