The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-18
The PROCEEDINGS.

washington, Dec ia motion by
Mr.. Hale (Rep., Me), that when the
senate adjourn today, it adjourn until
Monday, was agreed to without divi-
sion The house amendments to the
| senate bill as to the lands of the Pacific
Railroad company, were laid before the
senate and were, on motion of Mr. Hill,
| (Dem., N. ", non-concurred in and a
conference asked. Senators Hill. Platt
(Rep., Conn.,, and Clark. (Rep., Wyo.),
being appointed conferees 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,
Mr.. Chandler. (Rep.. n. HI, collided
with Mr.. Allen in reference to the fail
ure of Mr.. Aliens resolution of in
quiry on that subject last session-Mr.
Chandler asserting that the resolution
had failed because of some intemper-
ate remarks of Mr.. Aliens, questioning
the motives of Republican senators,
and Mr.. Allen denying that, but as
sorting that he had had a grave suspi-
cion that the resolution never would be
acted on in good faith on the Repub-
lican side of the chamber
After the passage of two senate bills
on the calendar las to accounts of
army officers who were graduates of
West Point military academy; and for
u.
dier). the house bill to amend the i'm
migration laws was taken up
AMENDMENT MODIFIED.
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
language, but an admissible immi-
grant over such age of 16 may bring
with him or send for his wife or par
ent or grandparent or minor child or
grandchild, Notwithstanding their in
ability to read and write
Mr.. Morgan (Dem., Ala) moved to
amend the bill so that as that it shall
not apply to immigrants from Cuba.
The demands of humanity. he said,
were obvious in relation to Cuba. The
United States could not afford to send
a refugee back to Cuba to the
merciless grasp of the men from
whom he had escaped. The ex-
ception, he argued, could be made
without interfering with the gr7-
eral clause in treaties as to "the
most Favored nations.
Mr.. Hoar (Rep., Mass.) suggested
that the better way would be q pro-
vision authorizing the secretary of
state to provide for the admission OF
immigrants fleeing from war or polit-
lcal oppression or in consequence of
political disorder.
After long discussion Mr. Morgan's
was modified so that the
act shall not apply to persons arriv-
ing 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 inhab- /
ltants of that island" was agreed to
yeas, Al; nays, 6-the negative votes
being given by Senators Caffery Dem., I
La, Hin (Dem, n. ". Lindsay (Dem.. /
KyD, Palmer (Dem., IIls). Pettigrew
(Silver Rep, S. d. and Walthall Dem. /
MiSs.).
A HEAD TAX
Mr.. Elkins fRep., w. Val offered an |
amendment for the collection of a head |
tax of $40 on all immigrants coming
10 the United States in vessels not of |
the United States.
Mr.. Nelson (Rep., Mimi opposed the
saying that he would |
rather vote to prevent immigration al
than vote for an amendment
that would be tax on common hu-
manity, and that would make the
United States the most mercefary and
abject of the nations CT the earth.
Mr.. Elkins spoke in support of his
IAN steamship lines could bring in all
he immigrants, and that besides, it
vas desirable to restrict immigration.
Mr.. Chandler (Rep.), n. H, opposed
he amendment, saying that he was
Wiling to aid the American steamship
ines by appropriations from the treas
Try, but he was not willing to have a
lead tax imposed on immigrants. (.
Mr.. Perkins (Rep), California, ia
Tored the amendment, the effect of
which. he said would be to make q gift
# $40 to the immigrant who came to
he United States in a ship flying "Old
slory' and also TO give the immigrant
lis first lesson in American citizenship
Mr.. Hill CDem.). New York. declared
hat in his opinion the amendment was
ntirely in the wrong direction. 1t had
'een defended on the high and lofty
round of protection. 1t was the prfn-
iple of protection run mad, of pater-
alism run mad. 1t would be better to
rovide that there should be no immi-
ration at all.
Mr.. Wolcott (Rep). Colorado. also
pposed the amendment The effect of
would be, he said. to cause imni-
rants from Europe to land at a Can
dian port. and TO cross the st.
lawrence into the United States. and to
ause immigrants from China and ia
an TO take steamships to Vancouver