The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-11
IMMIGRATION BILL
IS DISCUSSED
The Senate Proposes Several Amend
ments, One Being Adopted.
NO OBSTRUCTIVE TACTICS
viii Be Employed by the Democrats
Against the Dlngley Bill-comments
on Republican Majority.

Washington. December lO.-In the
senate today the immigration bill came
up as unfinished business. Gibson sug-
gested that the measure go over until
after the holidays. Lodge. In charge Of
the bill. protested that there should be
no further delay. Gibson changed his
motion so az TO postpone the bin until
the first Monday in January, and a roll
cali was taken. resulting in yeas, 10,
noes 81.
The vote for postponement was; Ba-
con. Bate. Blackburn. caffery, Gibson,
Mills. Mitchell, OF Wisconsin. Murphy.
Pascoe. Pugh, Turtle. Vest, Waltham.
Democrats, 10.
The measure brought out an extended
debate. Vest pointed out that the pro-
visions should be restricted to male i'm
migrants. showing that female domes-
tics. most OF them coming from foreign
countries. did not have franchise. and
could not reduce TO our standard OF
citizenship. Chandler called attention
10 the fact that In recent elections wom-
en- voted in many states. and that the
distinction urged by Vest was fast dis
appearing. Chandler said It was essen
tial that the mothers and girls who
were coming from abroad should not
be illiterate as they taught and reared
children who were TO swell our coming
generations.
Chandler caused a laugh by reference
TO Hill, Of New York, who temporarily
occupied the chair, He said the re-
strlctlon of immigration had been APP
proved by several national platforms.
"If am wrong. the senator in the
chair QHilD viii correct me, and he Is
familiar with all platforms" Chandler
said the Republican national platform
and at least one of the platforms on
which Bryan stood. had declared for
restricted immigration. and be face
tiously suggested that Vest ought not
to be the first TO violate party pledges.
Palmer offered an amendment making
the restrictions apply to all persons
over q years OF age. instead OF IA years,
as proposed by the bill. He urged that
2l was the usual time OF reaching ma
jority. The Vest and Palmer amend
ments were pending when the bill was
laid aside. The amendment by Sewall
was agreed to excepting the minor chill
dren and wives OF admissible imml-
grants from the operation of the bill.
At S:45 the immigration bill went over
and the senate adjourned until Mon
day.
The comparatively early adjournment
OF the senate today was taken advan-
tage Of by some Of the Democratic lead
ers OF that body to hold a meeting for
the exchange Of views on the policy to
be pursued in the senate by the party
during the present session.
Among other questions under consid-
Grafton was that OF the senatorial cleo
tions in various states, The Democrats
are convinced that the Republicans will
make every effort to secure a majority
Of the senate through the elections in
the various state legislatures this win
ter, but at today's meeting the senti-
ment was that the Republicans could
not win in enough states to insure
majority in the senate.
1t was announced as result of the
that the Democrats had
nothing interesting in view so far as
the party was concerned. There will be
no caucus called at present, and prob
ably not during the session, unless
some exigencies arise which will make
1t necessary. The opinion was general
that nothing could be done at this ses-
sion except to pass the appropriation
bills.
As to taking up the Dingley bill, the
Democrats will vote as they Individual
ly may determine. No obstructive tao
tics will be employed against the bill,
but the whole Democratic party un-
would resist it's passage by
vote and by such amendments as could
be added to the measure 1t was gem
orally understood also that party lines
would not be drawn tightly during the
present session.