New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-18
IMMIGRATION BILL PASSED.
THE RESTRICTIVE MEASURE NOW GOES
TO THE PRESIDENT

THE RESTRICTIVE MEASURE NOW GOES
TO THE PRESIDENT.
FINAL CONFERENCE REPORT ADOPTED IN THE
SENATE by VOTE OF 81 TO 81 AFTER
FOUR HOURS pERArE-PRovIs1oNs
OF THE BILL. AS PASSED.
Washington. Feb. I7.-After four hours DEBATE In
,ro Senate to-day the conference report on the Dill
"a amend the immigration laws was agreed 10 oy
n vote Of "a to 81. AS the report had areao! oeeh
agreed In the House the bill. as mooined III con-
ference now goes to the President 1t ADDS 10 the
classes of excluded aliens all persons over sixteen
wears OF age who cannot read the Engnsh language
~ some other language except that admissible
immigrants may bring with them or send Tor HIT
crate parents grandparents over ntty years oi
age wives and minor children. 1t also PROMPTS
from employment on public works aliens who come
regularly or habiually into the United States FOR
the purpose Of engaging In any mechanical trade OF
manual labor, and who have not made declaration
Of intention 70 become American citizens. The Sec
rotary Of the Treasury however may permit the
entrance OF aliens for the purpose OF teaching new
arts or Industries And the act Is not TO apply 10
persons coming here from Cuba during the contnu-
ance of the present disorders there.
The conference report briefly explained by
Mr. Lodge (Rep.. Mass) in charge Of the bill
Mr. Palmer Dem. I'D denounced the bill as an
outgrowth Of natvism-a doctrine for which he had
the most profound and earnest detestation. He be-
leved in the ancient declaration OF mans right 10
life liberty and the pursuit Of happiness He be-
llcved in the right of expatriation and immigra-
ton. but he detested nativism. The educational
conditions imposed by the bill upon immigrants
were. in his opinion. essentially and radically I'M
Just. and would be. in practice. found TO be abso
.utely useless. They would exclude harmless and
useful class. and would not exclude the Drawing
Anarchists" all of whom could read and write. As
TO the exclusion of occasional labor which
aimed at Canadians crossing the border during the
summer months. Mr.. Palmer said that IL other ma
lions followed that miserable. narrow example
and adopted retaliatory legislation American la
borers IN Mexican and Canadian mines and forests
would suffer. Such legislation he declared to be IAN
outrage the comfy OF nations and on the civil
ization of the age
In the of his speech ausion made
BY Mr.. Palmer 70 the State Of Massachusetts as
the only Northern State which refused suffrage to
men who could read and write. The defence
OF his States constitutional provision In that
gard was taken up by Mr. Hoar (Rep.. Mass.
VINO spoke Of such statements pure dema-
gosy" He told by Mr. Palmer that he (Mr
Hoarj did not seem realize the dignity and
importance Of the rights of American citizen
ard he was reminded that during the war MasSa-
chusetts he'd emissaries 10 the South and
filed her quota of troops with colored men who
could read or write
RETALIATORY MEASURES PREDICTED.
NJ Carter (Rep. Month gave notice that II the
conference report disagreed to he would
move foranoher conference with instructions TO the
Senate conferrees insist upon an amendment
that il, shall apply to the citizen Of any country
on this hemisphere lie agreed with Mr.. Palmer
in SAYING that no such legislation this bill pro-
posed could be found the statute books or any
civilized country in Ghr!stendom. He regarded
1t az an Immature and unwise piece of Legislation
in tre dle Age here "A
actnent As 20 the provision against occasional
Iaborers from Canada, Mr. Carter said that the
Dominion OF Canada would not fail 10 incorporate
in her statutes a similar law. And he believed
that II could be safely asserted that where there
is one citizen of Canada working In the United
States who had not declared his intention 10 be-
come an American citizen there were at least a
dozen Americans working in Canada and hndinG
lucrative employment there. not one OF whom ma /
renounced his American citizenship. Such legis-
lation would call for retaliation from every gov
eminent the American continent. In the mines
of British Columbia there were some 5000 Amerl-
cans earning from 80 TO 50 DAY. and In Mexico
the vast system Of railroads was worked 3y Amer
leans Would II be wise. then-even only consult
Ing self-interest-to invite the Dominion OF Canada
and the Republic OF Mexico to command these
Americans either to leave the country or 10 re-
nounce their citizenship?
Mr. Carfery Dem, La also opposed the CONFER
enee report He 10 the clerks desk and mad
The letter from Oulud puDsi'eu III NV ''O'''
ing papers in praise OF the illterae Italian peas
an.rv as contrasted with the trash Of the cities,
euasculated corrupt and debauched
Nj Chandler (Rep.. y. HI did not let the oppor-
,u,i,y pass of reminding Mr.. Cafery that in no
State Of The Union Italians treated so badly as
in louisiana where many o: them had been Killed
and me United States Government obliged 10 pay
;ndemnltv He was glad 10 see that Louisiana was
coming 10 appreciate the virtues OF the Italian I'M
migrants.
NJ CafYery said that such filings had no eHect
on him The people OF Louisiana had no sort OF
apology for the murder Of the Italians alluded 10 py
the Senator from w-Hampshire.
Mr. Chandler discaimed any purpose TO indulge IN
fling" az the people OF Louisiana. He only hoped
that after reading "Ouda's" letter they would not
kill any Italians.
Mr GRAY dem. Del) also opposed the conference
r.po-t and the bill as departure from the settled
policy o. the United States. He got into dispute
with NJ Chandler one OF the conferrees on the bill.
a. 10 Tho construction OF the section referring 10
those laborers who come regularly and haoituay TO
the United States. Mr. ChIn .'s- denied Mr. Gray s
construction and expressed his aitonsh7'ent that
Senator who had born .hoIsht worthy In pno''c es-
tmation OF the iiShest tribunal o. the iahd
should make such a sta:ert,r:
Mr. Gibson Dem, M made an argument against
the conference report a ID he bill. IN" Dr. ne de-
CARED was framed on the .:ec-y II the fis'e slave
law and like that law. It's in Vc-dnl:y would shock
the whole mora. sense NJ TIE peo2e.