The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-03
KILLED BY PRESIDENT.
Amendments to Immigration Law
Not Approved by Cleveland.
He Points TO Growth Under
Liberal Admissions.
Time Has Not Come For Restriction on
Account Of Oyerpopu'ation.

Washington March S.-The president
has sent the following message to con-
gress yetoing the Lodge immigration
bill:
To the House OF Representatives:
herewith return without approval
house bill No. 1864, entitled IAN act To
amend the immigration laws of tho
United States"
BY the first section of this bill. 1t is
proposed TO amend Section ! of the act
OF March 8. 1891, relating to immigration.
by adding to the classes of aliens there
by excluded from admission TO the
United States the following: All per
sons physically capable and over Ii
years of age who cannot read and write
the English language or some other Ian
guage; but. a person not so able TO read
and write, who is over 80 years of age
and is the parent or grandparent or
qualified immigrant over Il years OF age,
and capable of supporting such parent
or grandparent, may accompany such
immigrant, or such parent or grand par
ent may be sent for and come to join tho
family OF a child or grandchild over q
years of age similarly qualified and ca
pable, and a wife or minor child not SO
able to read and write may accompany
or be sent for and come and join the
husband or paregt similarly qualified
and capable"
A radical departure from our ma
tional policy relating TO immigration Is
here presented. Heretofore we have
welcomed az who came to us from other
lands, except those whose moral ply
steal condition threatened danger to ouI
national welfare and safety. Relying
upon the jealous watchfulness of ouI
people to prevent injury 10 our political
and social fabric, we have encouraged
those coming from foreign countries to
cast their lot with us and join in the
development of our vast domain, secur'
ing in return a share in the blessings OF
American citizenship. A century's stu
pcndous growth. largely due TO the as
similation and thrift Of millions OF
sturdy and patriotic adopted citizens, at.
tests the success Of this generous ano
free-handed policy, which, while guard.
ing the peoples interests. exacts from
our immigrants only physical and moral
soundness and Willingness and ability
to work.
a contemplation Of the grand results
of this policy cannot fail to arouse a
sentiment in its defense; for. however il
might have been regarded as an original
proposition and viewed as an expert.
ment, it's accomplishments are such tina
If it is 20 be applied at this late day its
disadvantages Should be plainly ap.
parent, and the substitute adopted
should be just and adequate, free from
uncertainties and guarded against diff.
cult or oppressive administration.
1t is not claimed, i believe, that the
time has come for the further restriction
OF immigration on the ground that an ex.
cess of population overcrowds our land
1t is said, however, that the quality OF
recent immigration is undesirable, The
time is quite within recent memory
when the same thing was said of immi
grants who, with their descendants, are
now numbered among our best citizens
1t is said that too many immigrants
settle in our cities. thus dangerously in
creasng their idle and vicious popula
ton. This is certainly disadvantage
II cannot be shown, however, that il
affects all our cities nor that il is per
n,anent nor dcc5 II appea. that this
condition, where il exists, demands az
its remedy the reversal of our pre- -ent
immigration policy.
The claim Is also made that the in.
fux Of foreign laborers deprives of the
opportunity To work those who are bet.
ter entitled than they TO the privilege OF
earning their livelihood by daily toll
An unfortunate condition is certainly
presented when any who are willing &c
labor are unemployed. But. so far a.
this condition now exists among our peo
pie IL must be conceded to be a result OF
phenomenal business depression and the
stagnation of all enterprises I'm which
labor 10 a factor. With the advent OF
settled and wholesome financial and
economic governmental policies and o
consequent encouragement to the ac-
tivity of capital. the misfortunes of un.
employed labor should be. to great ex- |
tent, at least, remedled. If ii continues
its natural consequences must be t.
check the further immigration TO our
cities of foreign laborers and TO deplete |
the ranks OF those already there In the |
meantime those most willing and best |
ought to he able TO secure the |
advantages of such work as there IL 10 |
do.
1T is proposed by the bill under con-
sideration to meet the alleged Difficult. |
ties Of the situation by establishing an |
educational test by which the right ~ |
a foreigner to make his home with us |
shall he determined It's general scheme |
is to prohibit from admission to om
country all immigrants physically ca
pable and over 10 years OF age who can
not read and write the English Ian
l.
is provided that this test shall he ap-
Piled by requiring immigrants seeking
admission To read and afterwards to |
write not less than % NOR mara tba,, 0-