The evening times., 1897-03-03

The following message vetoing the Inn
migration bin was sent 20 the House late
yesterday afternoon:
"To the House of Representatives:
81 herewith return without approval
House bin No. 1854, entitled An act TO
| States.
"By tile first section Of this bill 1t Il
1 proposed to amend section 1 of the act
of March 3, 1891, relating to immigra-
ton by adding to the classes Of aliens
| thereby excluded from admission TO the
| United States the following:
"'An persons physically capable and
over sixteen years Of age who cannot
read and write the English language oil
some other language; but person not so
! able to read and write who is over nifty
years of age and is the parent or grand
| parent OF qualified immigrant over TWEEN
ty-one years Of age and capable OF sup
porting such parent or grandparent may
| accompany such immigrant, or such a
| parent or grandparent may be sent for
| and come to join the family OF child
| or grandchild over twenty-one years OF
| age similarly qualified and capable, and a
wife or minor child not so able to read
/ and write may accompany or be sent for
| and come to join the husband OF parent
| similarly qualified and capable.
| "a radical departure from our national
| policy relating to immigration is here
! presented. Heretofore we have well
/ coined all who came to US from other
| lands, except whose moral or physical
! condition or history threatened danger
| to our national welfare and safety. Re
| lying upon the jealous watchfulness u
| our people TO prevent injury to our po-
| litieal and social fabric, we have en-
oouraged those coming from foreign coun-
| tres to cast their lot with us and join
| in the development OF our domain, secGr-
| ing in return a share in the blessings OF
American citizenship. A century's stu
pentlous growth largely due to- the assimi-
Iation and thrift OF millions of sturdy
and patriotic adopted citizens attcst5 the
success of this generous end free-hantied
policy. which while guarding the peoples
interests, exacts from our immigrants only
physical and moral soundness. and a
willingness and ability to work.
"a contemplation OF the grand results
of this policy cannot fail to arouse a
1t might have lpeen regarded as an original
proposition and viewed as an experiment..
it's accomplishments are such that il it is
to be uprooted at this late day, its disadvan-
tages should be plainly apparent and the
substitute adopted should be Just and abe
quate, free from uncertainties, and guarded
against difficult or oppressive administra-
tion.
at is not claimed, 1 believe, that the
time has come for the further restriction
of immigration on the ground that an
excess of population overcrowds our land
ut is said, however, that the quality OF
recent immigration is undesirable. The
time is quite within Tecent memory when
the same thing was said of immigrants
who, with their desce ndantS, are now
numbered among our best citizens.
.sItissaidthat too manyimmigrants settle
in our cities, thus dangerously increasing
their idle and vicious population, This
is certainly Disadvantage II cannot be
shown, however, that it affects all our
cities nor that it s permanent; nor does
it appear that this condition where IL ex-
lists demands as its remedy the reversal
of our present immigration policy.
THE claim S also made that the influx
of foreign IaboreFs deprives of the Oppor
tunity to work those who are better en-
titled than they to the privilege of earn
ing their livelihood by daily toll. An un.
fortunate condition is certainly presented
when any who oare willing to iaHor are Hn-
employed. But so far as this condition
now exists among our people. 10 must be
conceded to be a result OF phenomenal
business depression and tbe stagnatiOn or
all enterprises in which labor is a factor
With the advent OF settled and wholesome
financial and economic governmental rOl-
icies and a consequent encouragement 70
the activity of capital the TniSfortUnes OF
unemployed labor should to a great extent
at least be remedied. If 10 Continues, it's
natural Consequence must he On check ire
further Immigration 20 our cities or for
eign laborcrs and TO deplete the ranks Of
those already there In the eantime
those most willing and best entitled ought
To be able to secure the advantages OF such
work IS there is to do.
"Itis proposed by the bin under consid-
Grafton to meet the alleged difficulties
OF the situation by establishing an eiu-
cationaI test by which the right Of a for
eigner to make his home with US sfSill
be determined It's general scheme Is 90
prohibit from admission 60 our country
all Immigrants physically capable and over
sixteen years Of age who cannot read and
write the English language or some other
language. and IL Is provided that this
test shah be applied by requiring immi-
grants seeking admission 20 read and aft
erward TO write rot less than twenty or
more than twenty-five words OF the Con
siitution of the United States In some
language, and that any immigrant failing
In this shall not be admitted, but shall
be returned to the country from whence
he came at the expense OF the steamship
or railroad company which brought him.
"The best reason that could be given
for this radical restriction OF immigration
is the necessity of protecting our popu-
fation against degeneration and saving
our national peace and quiet from
imported turbulence and disorder.
II cannot believe that we would be
projected against these evils by limiting
Immigration to those who can read and
write in any language twenty five words of
our Constitution In my opinion it is in
finitely more safe to admit a hundred
thousand immigrants who, though unable
to read and write, seek among us only
home and opportunity to work, than to
admit of one of those unIuly agitators and
enemies of governmental control who can
not only read and writes but delights in