Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-30
PROPOSED IMMIGRANT TAX
Senator Tillman Would Fix It at 500
Each,
Animated Discussion With Mr.. Chand
Ter Regarding the Politics of
the Late President.

The Senate completed the lead para
! graphs in the tariff bill yesterday after
| noon. Toward the close of the day there
| was an interesting semi-serious colloquy
| between Senator Tillman and Senator
Chandler.
Mr.. T1llman offered proposition that
there shall be collected head tax of $1OO
on all immigrants coming to the United
States by land or water.
THAT 1t shall be misdemeanor punish
| able by fine or imprisonment for any alien
! who does not intend to become an Ameri-
| can citizen, or who retains his citizenship
IN foreign country, to enter the United
| states Tor the purpose of engaging in any
| mechanical trade or manual labor within
| the borders thereof:
! Provided. That this section and the cne
| Immediately preceding shall only remain of
! force until silver shall be admitted to our
| mints for coinage at the ratio of 10 to on
the same conditions with gold.''
He gave the extent of the slum element
! cities, and said that showed where the big
| republican majcrities came from last year.
The senator dealt more in statistics than
| usual although he added the characteristic
vehemence Of voice and gesture to his re-
| marks. He closed with gloomy prediction
| that IL the tide of immigration was not
| turned back the country would be torn by
| revolution and bloodshed, and repetition
| of the Paris commune.
Mr.. Chandler briefly responded to the
| South Carolina senator, and asked why 1t
| was that the immigration bill passed by re-
| publican majorities in the last Congress
had been defeated.
Because your republican President,
| Grover Cleveland, vetoed it," shouted Mr..
Tillman.
Amid the laughter Mr.. Chandler protest
ed against having Mr.. Cleveland designated
a republican. when the senator from South
| Carolina CTillman) had joined other demo-
Gratis in electing that President as a demo-
crat.
Yes" observed Mr.. Tillman. while the
galleries roared, Il ask forgiveness for that
and promise, SO help me God, I'll never
| do it again."
Mr.. Chandler went on to say that the
failure of the only recent amendment to the
immigration laws was caused by a demo-
cratic President
And the senator should have turned the
tihes: oI his pitchfork on Grover Cleveland
ana left the republican party for another
day., continued the senator in droll tones
Here Mr.. Tillman insisted on setting
nlmseif straight on Grover Cleveland" and
In spite of protests he proceeded RAPIDLY to
assert that in 1892 he went to the national
convention con, at the head Of the South Caro-
hno delegation, after the state convention
mad declared Mr.. Cleveland to be a pros
titute of democracy
Mr. Chandler here interposed a protest
and with mock seriousness conyulsed the
senate by refusing to yield longer
Il cannot permit" he said, such Ian
guage against the President of the sena-
tors party"
He would yield only in case the South
Carolina senator adopted his usual cour-
teous and respectful style toward the late
President.
Mr.. Tillman started to review the oircum-
stances of his support of Mr.. Cleveland
and In conclusion said: II hope the sena-
tor will not twit me again for having made
fool of myself once"
Mr.. Chandler. continuing his mock Sc
rious manner, insisted that now that the
PRESIDENT was gone the members of the
democratic party were responsible for all
his acts, good and bad. The senator was
speedily involved in another colloquy with
Mr.. Tillman, during which the South Caro-
lima senator referred to Mr.. Chandler as
you
Il must object to this supplementary
action interposed Mr.. Chandler. las the
senator's direct use of you frightens me
more than he is aware Of"
II have no ptchfork," called back Mr..
Tillman, who added that he recognized Mr..
Chambers purpose to ridicule him.
The vote was then taken on Mr. Tillman's
amendments, and they were rejected, 3-4s;
the three votes in the affirmative were
Butler, Quay ard Tillman.