The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-18

L4CophAOn <hPphos Oh1y DO Long as War 40
In Progress-Pr oposal to Tax Immi-
grants Voted Down-Amendment With
Regard to Naturalization suffers Same
Fate-Unimportant Matters In the
House.
ate today, motion by Mr.. Hale that
when the Senate adjourn today, it ad-
journ until Monday, met with some g.
monstrance on both sides of the oham-
ber. but was agreed to without division.
The House amendments to the Senate
bill as to the lands of the Atlantic &
Pacific railroad company, were laid be-
fore the Senate and were, on motion of
Mr.. Hill, non-con curred in and con-
ference asked, Senators Hill, Platt, and
Clark being appointed oonferees on the
part of the Senate.
In presenting lot of petitions from
Alabama declaring that there was no
lawful state government in that state,
Mr.. Chandler clashed with Mr.. Allen in
reference to the failure of Mr.. Aliens
resolution of inquiry on that subject
last evening, Mr.. Chandler asserting that
the resolution failed because of some in
temperate remarks OF Mr. Aliens, ques-
tionina the motives of the Republican
Senators, Mr.. Allen denying that, but
asserting that he had grave suspicion
that the resolution never would be acted
on in good faith on the Republican side
of the cham ber.
After the passage of two Senate bills
on the calendar (as to accounts of army
officers, graduates of West Point Military
Academy, and for the relief OF Major
VIM. M. Maynedier), the House bill to
amend the immigration laws was taken
up.
The Senate amendment was modified
to make the exclusion paragraph read:
"All persons over 16 who cannot read
and write the language of their native
country, or some other languages, but
admissible immigrant over such age Of
16 may bring in with him or send for his
wife or parent or grand parent, or
minor child or grand child, notwith-
standing their inability to read and
write"
Mr.. Morgan, Democrat of Alabama,
moved to amend the bill SO 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
back the Cuban to sne merciless grasp
of the men from whom he escaped. The
exception, he argued could be made with
out interfering with the general clause
in the treaties as to "the most favored
nations.
Mr. Hoar, Republica of Massachu-
setts, suggested that a better way would
be provision authorizing the secretary
of state to provide for the admission of
im migrants fleeing from war or politi-
litical disorder. After long discussion
MIR. Morgan's amendment was modified
SO that "the act shall not apply to per-
SONS 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 pers-
ons have been heretofore Inhabitants of
that isand." " Agreed TO, yeas AZ, nays g.
the negative votes being given by Caffery
Democrat of Louisiana, Hill, Democrat
of New York Lindsay, Democrat OF Ken
tucky; Palmer, Democrats of Illinois; Pet |
tigrew, Silver Republican of South Da- |
kota; Walthall, Democrat Of Mississippi.
Mr.. Elkins, Republican Of West Vir-
ginia, offered an amendment for the col |
lection of head tax Of ten dollars on |
all immigrants coming to the United |
States in vessels not of the United |
States.
Mr.. Nelson, Republican of Minnesota,
op pofed the amendment saying he would |
rather vote to prevent immigra tion al |
together than vote for an amendment |
that would be q tax on com mon humani-
ty and that would make the United ,
States the most mercenary and abject |
of all the nations of the earth.
MIR. Elkins spoke in support of TIE
urging that American
steamship lines could bring In all the
and that besides it was
desirable to restrict immigration.
Mr.. Chandler, Republican of New |
Hampshire, opposed the amendment,
saying he was willing to aid the Ameri
can steamship line by appropriations
from the .trensury, but was not willing
to have head tax imposed on immi-
grants.
Mr.. Perkins, Republican of California,
favored the amendment. tho effect of
which he said would be to make a gift
of ten dollars to the immigrant who
came to the United States in a ship fly
ing sold Glory" give the immigrant his
first lesson in American citizenship.
Mr.. Hill, Democrat OF New York, de-
clared that in his oplnion the amend
ment was entirely in the wrong direc-
tion. 1t had been defended on high and
lofty ground of protection. 1t was the
run mad. 1t would be bet-
ter to provide that there should be no
at ALL
Mr.. Wolcott, Republican of Colorado,
also opposed the amendment. The effect
Of it would be, he said, to cause immi-
grants from Europe to land at a Canadian
port and cross the So. Lawrence into the
United States, and cause immigrants
from China and Japan to take steam
ships to Vancouver, inasmuoh as the
wonld not apply to immi-
grants coming by land. After further
MIR. Elkins's amendment was
rejected.
Mr.. Morgan, Democrat of Alabama.
offered an amendment prohibiting the
of any alien "who can
not read correctly the Ten Command
ments and the Constitution of tho Unit
ed States printed in some language, and
made an argument in support of il.
Mr.. Lodge opposed the amendment as
opening up new and Important ques-
tions. He moved to lay it on the table.
The motion was agreed to-yeas 40,
mans 16. The bill was passed-yeas 81,
nays 10. The following is the vote in de-
tail:
YaaG--MqGSPg Altar p,oop Bate.