Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-18
TEST ON READING.
Principal Thing in the Lodge I'm.
migration Bill.
THE CUBANs TO CONE IN AID LIB.

Passes the Senate by . Vote OF Sc to 10
Synopsis of the Measure - 1t Passed the
Senats-Goes into Conference Nov-Rep-
resentatives Pass the Third Regular Ap-
preparation and Take Up the Fourth and
Make Good Progress.
Washington. Dec. 1s.-The senate yes
terday passed the immigration bill
known as the Lodge bill, with a new
section providing that the exclusion
shall not apply to persons arriving from
Cuba during the continuance of the
present disorders there. The strength
oi the bill was greater than had been
expected, the final vote being so to TO-
As passed the bill amends the immi-
grafton laws So as to exclude from
admission to the United States all per-
sons over 16 years of age who cannot
read and write the language of their
native country, or some other language;
but an admissible immigrant over the
age OF l6 may bring in with him. or
send for, his wife or parent or grand
parent, or minor child or grand child.
Notwithstanding their inability to read
and write. For the purpose of test
Ing the ability of the immigrant to
read and write as required by the
foregoing section the inspection officers
shall be furnished copies of the con-
stitution OF the United States printed
on numbered uniform pasteboard slips,
each containing Eve lines of the con-
stitution printed in the various
languages of the immigrants in double
small plea type.
How the Test VIII BE Made.
These slips shall be kept in boxes
made for that purpose and so con-
structed as to conceal the slips from
view, each box to contain slips of but
one language. and the immigrant may
designate the language in which he
prefers the test shall be made. Each
Immigrant shall be required to draw
one of these slips from the box, and
read and afterwards write out in full
view of the immigration officers the five
lines printed thereon. Each slip shall
be returned to the box Immediately
after the test is finished and the con-
tents of the box shall be shaken I'D by
an inspector before another drawing
Is made. No immigrant failing to read
and write out the slip thus drawn by
him shall be admitted. but he shall be
returned to the country whence he
came at the expense Of the steamship
or railroad company which brought
him. as provided by law.
Cuban Section OF the Measure,
The inspection officers shall keep in
each box at all times a full number of
these printed pasteboard slips. and in
the case Of each excluded immigrant
shall keep a certified memorandum of
the number of the slip which the immi-
grant failed to read or ccry out in
writing. The Cuban section added to
the bill provides 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. AN amend
ment by Elkins proposing q $40 head
tax on immigrants coming in other than
American ships occasioned considerable
debate and was finally tabled. as were
several other amendments. The immi-
grant measure now goes into confer
ence, as the bill passed is a substitute
for the Coriiss-McCall bill passed by the
house.
The passage of the bill and an exc
cutive session was the days work Of
the senators and they adjourned to
Monday.
Home il Rapid on Appropriations.
The house passed the third of the
regular appropriation bills Chat for the
support of the army. and entered upon
the consideration of the legislative. ex-
ecutive and judicial bill. The latter bill
carries s21 $685. or $40. 399 mere than
the law for the current year. Fair
progress was made. 1t is expected that
this bill and the Military academy ap-
preparation bill will be passed before
the holiday recess The army bill "a
passed makes no provision for the army
navy hospital at Hot Springs. Ark. The
house also passed several bills relating
to the District of Columbia, and three
resolutions for the use of flags of the
war department, government reserya-