The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-04
SHERMAN ON N|CARAGUAA CANAL
HE FORESHADOWED 4 NEW
TREATY WHEN HE GETS
TO BE PREMIER.
PRIVATE EFFORTS WOULD PROVE FAILURES.
lie Said Governmental Execution of the
Project Was the Only Practicable
Onc-Military Academy Appro-
priation Bill Passed Senate

uob'u
Washington, Jan. 27.-The house today,
after n debate Of four hours adopted
the conference report on the immigration
bill by vote Of 131 to III The prin-
cipal criticism of the measure agreed on
by the coDferees in debate today was
based upon the extension of the cduca-
tional test to female as well as male inn
migrants on the ground that il might di-
vide families and to the limitation Of the
ability Of an immigrant to read and write
the English language or the language of
their native country or residence.
Speeches were made by Mcssrs. Buck
(dem) of louisiana, Dolliyer rep of
Iowa, Barthold (rcp) of Missouri, Parker
Of New Jersey, Walker Of Massachusetts,
Cannon of Illinois. Grosvcnor Of Ohio,
all republicans, and Boatncr (dem) of
Louisiana in opposition and Mcssrs. Dan
forth Of Ohio, Hepburn of Iowa, w. A.
Stone Of Pennsylvania, Johnson Of In
diana, Corliss of Michigan, Morse of Mas
sachusctts, all republicans; Wilson (dem.)
of South Carolina and Taylor (rcp) of
Ohio in its support.
The provisions of the bill have recently
been published.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, Jan. 27.--Ir accordance
with the notice given on Monday, Mr..
An ,C 10, h.. 10
day called up the conference report on
the immigration bill. An agreement was
reached by which the vote should be
taken on the adoption of the report ut
p. IN. Mr.. Danforth then took the
floor and made the opening argument in
support of the report. If it passed the
house, he said. the bill applied the cdu
cational test only to males. This test
was not extended 10 females. 1t was
this educational test, he said, which
caused the principal objection to the bill
in conference on the ground that it might
separate families. If the bill becomes
u law, he said, its PROVISIONS would b.
well understood abroad by prospective
immigrants and very few families would
were not eligible. If any did. the steam
ship companies were obliged to return
them. He drew II graphic picture of the
providing In the great ccntcrs of popula-
ton, the great numbers ont Of work and
tic constant necessity of relieving them
from want aud starvation. He drew
attention to the Coriiss amendment
which was designed to prevent people
from crossing the Canadian line each
year in the spring and returning again
In the fall. They took advantage of the
high wages paid in the United States
They paid no taxes and contributed moth
ing TO the commonwealth, He thought
the bill less drastic than the one passed
by the house. In conclusion he said this
bill did not go az far rs he would like
TO go, because he believed the present I'M
employed in this country today presented
the greatest danger to this country,
Mr. Barthold (rcpD of Missouri, who
had charge Of the opposition tn the con
ference report, followed and recommend
cd sending II back to the conference. He
said he had refused TO sign the report
because il would separate husband and
wife. parent and child. and further he
cause II not only excluded illitcratcs, but
all those who could not read the Ian
guagc of their native or resident" land.
knowledge and reason and not prejudice
and passion, he trusted. would prevail
in the consideration of this subject. The
hill ~ agreed upon by the conference.
he said, would bar ont the Germans of
the Baltic provinces of Russia and many
people of southern Europe and South
America. who could not read and write
the language of their native or resident
land. The German Quakcrs. who spoke
no Russion and vet were under Russian
domination; the French who lived in the
German provinces of Alsacc- Lorraine
and other conquered subjects who had
not learned the language of the con
duerer would I've barred also.
Mr.. Boutelle trcp.) Of Maine interrupt
I'D to express the opinion that Mr.. Bar
thold gave too narrow Il definition t0 the
words of the hill
In reply Mr.. Barthold said he thought
the hill would exclude onc-third of our
present immigrants.
Mr. W. \. Stone (rcpl of Pcnnsylva-
mia sent to the clerks desk and had read
some kilograms addressed to Senator
Lodge. copies of which appeared in an
interview with Senator Lodge. printed to-
day. He quoted some statistics 10 show
that last year hut l66 immigrants of the
class of which we arc proud would have
been excluded by this bill II was the
importation of those from Italy. Hun
gary and other countries Of southern Eu-
VoiP, lurEc percentage OF whom would
he excluded by this bill. which was caus.
ing a glut in the common labor market.
Two hundred and twenty thousand of the
100000 immigrants who came in last
year remained in the three states Of Mas.
sachusetts, New York and PENNSYLVANIA
We have been lccislatinC for wears in
the interest of higher wages for lahorcrS:
now we should do something 10 prevent
The foreign naupcr labor from coming
here and cnioving the conditions we
create for the benefit nf the people.
Mr.. Ruck tdcm) of Louisiana opposed
the conference report He believed that
whatever tended 10 restrain or prohibit
human energy contained in il the germ
Of injury and wrong. II was undemo.
cratic
Mr.. johnson lccnD Of Indiana and Mr.
corliss trcp) of Michigan supported the
report.
Mr. Cannon trcnl uf Illinois favored
sending the Hill rk To conference 10
make. more plain a. reading ana writing
qualifications.
Mr.. Grosvenor Crepl of Ohio opposed
certain features of the report and said