New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-28

SPIRITED AND INT FRESTING DEBATE OVER
THE PROPOSED EDUCATIONAL TEST
tBr TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNpI
Washington Jar. 27.-By n vote Of 13l yeas TO III
nays the House of Representatives to-day adopted.
after spirited and interesting debate which lasted
four hours the bill TO amend the act to regulate ana
restrict mmig An inspection OF Inc vote II"
detail shows that the House did not divide on part!
lines The affirmative votes were cast by 100 RepuD-
Leans. twenty4one Democrats and five Populists'
and the negative votes were cast by eighty-hve Re
pubcans and thirty-two Democrats The majority
Of Republican votes in favor of the report OF the
conference committee was twenty. and the major
ity of Democratic votes against it was eleven a
few members voted in the negative because they ala
not regard the provisions Of the measure as strin-
gent enough and a considerable number Of Repub-
leans who heartily favored the purposes and objects
OF the compromise bill voted against II because they
regarded one or two of It's provisions unwise ana
unnecessarily harsh.
This was especially true Of the provision the oper-
alton Of which might result IN the separation OF
families of immgrants-a wife from her husband,
parent from his her child and SO on. The pro-
vision referred to denies the privilege Of admission
to an immigrant. male female. above the age OF
sixteen years who cannot read specified number
Of words printed in English or in the language OF
the country from which the immigrant comes II
might happen that husband and wife. or parent ana
literate and the other being denied admission as
illiterate. This was the chief bone OF contention
between the advocates of the provision and its OPP
ponents all Of whom declared themselves. however
In favor Of more stringent restrictions and regua-
tions than those which now exist and are designed
TO deny to undesirable alien immigrants the privi-
ege of admission TO the United States.
AS the debate. which had been an unusually
lively and interesting one neared its end, the
opponents of the measure grew hopeful, not 10
say confident of victory; but II the tide had been
setting In their favor II stopped and turned
against them by the mpassioned eloquence OF
Colonel Hepburn, Of Iowa, whose remarks were
repeatedly greeted with loud and hearty applause.
His speech closed the debate. and when he sat
down the advocates of the bill felt more hope
full and its opponents less confident, although
both sides realized that the vote would be close
one 1t is fairly probable that the result would
have been different out for the general desire
to have the immigration laws amended by this
Congress- and the prevailing fear that If the re-
port should be rejected and the bill again sent
to the conference committee 1t might fail al
together because of the brief period before the
expiration Of this Congress and the tremendous
pressure of other business.
THE DEBATE IN DETAIL
Speeches in favor of the report were made by
Messrs Danford Rep. Ohio. who presented "
for the conferrees; c. W. Stone Rep., Penn.)'
(Rep.. Mass) Wilson (Dem. S. Co. Taylor 'Rep.'
Ohio, and Hepburn (Rep. Iowa., and In opposi-
t,on to II by Messrs Bartholdt (Rep MOI chair-
man of the House Committee on lmmlgratioh'
Buck dem. LAD. Parker Rep. \. Dds "a'he'
REP. MassD, Cannon (Rep 1ll), 'irosvenor .FeP''
Ohio) Dolliver C4ep, Iowa. ana boa'he' 'De'''
La. .., -, l., 49,
.orarco q, Il answered the objections made to the
senaration Of an ilterate husband ana WE lie
admitted that this bill was drawn Tor me purpose
Of excluding undesirable immigrants ana 'he euu-
catonal test was inserted In order 10 carr! OUT '
nurpose The time had come he said, when some
ching should be done TO restrict immigration. lime
and again the conventions OF the two grea' parties
had nronsed relief on this score but this was the
first real effort to make good these promises lie
read from statistical returns OF the oupcri"'e""e
of immigration to show the large proPor"o" %
u,terates coming to the United States from the
soutbern and eastern portions Of Europe, assert
ing that the immigration from the western anu
northern nations of Europe would be Out h''e
affected by the proposed legislation signihcah'
statement had been made in the newspapers re-
Gently to the effect that II every Industrial whee'
in the country WAS started ah hrs the hnndred thou
sand men still unemployed he d,o not sp work ' ot
who were pleading for legislation for their pro. or
iI ss amn ns and intended deal with TIA,
Class known as birds OF passage" Mr. Daniord
more difficuit probably. than was imagined buy
that something should be done TO prevent the prcn
er and flee in the winter generally conceded
Mr. Doiiiver asked what was the purpose OF , ae
House and the Senate bill and providing that ine
immigrants should read and write inc ,h nan
of the United States In the language OIL ''''i' ~"
tive or resident country? :. .s % roach the
Mr. Danford replied that was f 10 b ffrc homes
and having drained the charity OF Europe So,s
being thrown upon our shores IN freai breW as
ISOLATED Charities OF NewYork were compelled 90 20
appeal FOR aid to those 1usd ,hs afe n Vw lie closed
With en- plea for the passage OF the o n
n from the menace to which is exposed under
present laws He did no, ask that hardship he be
residents Of the country might be conserved
In opening the debate IN opposition sd to bd ne h aape
fused to sign il for two reasons: First that by IT'S
provisions families husbands and wives mothers e,
and children-would be separated. and second 'hd
i, forbade the entrance Of Immigrants VINO couid
read the language Of their ns'iye or peTa
not contained in either the House or Senate nl;
and their hs he biz went 10
it would return in a shape which could not I've
ives ana would offend the Of Justice and of
right in this c9unry The n Mr. rg as
bv it's advocates Of establishing an educational
test It would shu out IT.. for a%s bor ch hoS S
in Russia. the language Of which they did not
speak; also many residents OF Aisace Lorraine VINO
had not vet acquired the German Language. Re
ferrhe to the statement that the bill intended
to reach especially the, Russian Jews. Mr. Bar
fholdt said: IF in The dawn Of the twentieth CEN
fury my constituents should ask me TO join in
further persecution Of them. would lay, down
nv duties here, return TO my sancium. and write
editorials against such an inhuman proposition"
(Applause)
Mr. Corlss explained the necessity OF tie pro-
visions in the bill introduced by himself aimed at
what are known birds OF passage: In De-
troit alone he said there were 1000 citizens anx
ious for work but unable TO obtain IT because
OF the presence Of aliens. who were there tenn
porarily defrauding the American citizens out OF
their rights When he took his oath OF office as a
member Of the House. It was not TO legslate for
the benefit OF the whole world. but for the upbud
ing and protection Of the American people. ZAP
plause.l
as a member Of Congress had made his blood boil
as had this conference report; The Nihilst, Social
list and Anarchist could easily pass the educational
test and come in. II would be quite better TO ad-