Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-18
NEW IMMIGRATION LAW
Now Awaiting Presidential Assent
Very Rigid.
lLLlTERATES NOT WANTED
Refugees from Cuba Not Included in the OBJ
ectionabIe Clauses.
NINETY-SIx TO TWENTY-ElGHT
Was the Vote on Limiting Pensions to
Widows of Officers of Lower Rank
More Pie to Be Doled Out
by the Executive.

Washington, Feb. 17.-After a four
hours debate in the senate today the con-
ference report on the bill to amend the
immigration laws was agreed to by
vote of 81 to 81. AS the report had al
ready been agreed to in the house the
bill, as modified in conference, now goes
to the president. 1t adds to the classes
of excluded alions, all persons over 16
years of age who cannot read the Eng
lish language or some other language
except that admissible immigrants may
bring with them or send for illterate
parents or grand parents cover so years
of age), wives asd minor children. 1t also
prohibits from employment on public
works aliens who came regularly or
habitually into the United States for the
purpose of engaging in any mechanical
trade or manual labor, and who have not
made declaration of intention to become
American citizens. The secretary of the
treasury, however may permit the en-
trance of aliens for the purpose of teach
ing new arts or industries. And the act
is not to apply to persons coming here
from Cuba, during the continuance of the
present disorders there.
Four democratic senators (Chilton,
Faulkner, Hill and Martin) voted for the
report and four republicans CHansbrough,
Hawley, Mantle and Shoup) against it.
After the immigration bill was dis
posed of the senate proceeded to the con-
sideration of executive business and at 6
p. m. adjourned.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
When Senator Sewall, of New Jersey,
read the Record this morning and found
An. AH.N ae.A< 1acl
Bridgeton, Bayonne, Atlantic City, Pater-
son, Ocean City, Cramer Hill and Rock
away, In the state of New Jersey had
been yesterday confirmed, he was II ed
with indignation. The result was that
when the senate went into executive ses-
eion this afternoon Mr.. Sewall was in
state of mind that caused him to indulge
Z in some criticism of the means by which
the combinations had been secured. Mr..
Smith, the democratic senator from New
Jersey, resented the animation that the
report from the committee and the action
of the senate had been secured in a way
that was not entirely fair and insisted
that none of Mr.. Sewall's rights or
privileges had been imposed upon.
Mr. Chandler, acting chairman OF the
committee, stated that the committee by
a yea and nay vote, Mr.. Butler, populist,
having the casting vote, had decided to
make favorable report and that the
nominations came up in the ordinary
endar. This did not modify Mr.. Sewall
to any appreciable extent, and he wanted
the combinations reconsidered. Mr..
Smith made no objection to the addition
of motion recalling the combinations
from the postoffice department, but he
will resist a motion to reconsider the ac-
ton of the senate, which Mr.. Sewall will
make at the next executive session.
The nominations of Charles +. Amidon
to be district Judge for the district of
10 liza m heA
district judge for the district of Nebraska,
went over until tomorrow. 1t was made
very plain that these judicial nominations
are to be contested, some of the republi-
cans believing that they should be held
up until after the fourth of March.
IN THE HOUSE.
BY the very decisive vote of So to 2S
the house today affirmed its intention to
abide by the policy of limiting pensions
for widows of general officers to $50
month, and grading from that sum down
for widows of officers of lower rank. The
question arose over the report of the
conferees upon the bill to pension the
widow of Capt. j. Scott Payne, of the
Fifth United States cavalry. 1t was a
senate bill, and the amount of pension
was originally fixed at $50 month The
house reduced it to $50, but in conference
the house managers yielded to the sena-
tors and recommended that the house
recede from its amendment. This the
house refused to do after an hours de-
bate, in which the matter was fully dis
cussed and by the vote stated the bill was
returned to the conferees.
The conference report on the 1egisla-
tive. executive and judicial appropriation
bill presented by Mr.. Bingham was
agreed to. The principal changes were
in the provisions for the congressional
library. AS agreed upon the bill author
ICES the president to appoint a librarian
and superintendent, who must be con-
firmed by the senate who shall receive S.
600 year each, and appoint the subor-
dinates in their respective departments
1877 all told.
The bill carries total appropriation of
$21, ,717,767.
Mr.. Lacy of Iowa, called up the bill
authorizing the use of reservations made
for reservoir sites.
Amendments were adopted giving the
states the same rigf9 to enter upon and
improve reservoir sites as individuals
and corporations; and placing the prices
to-be charged for the water coming from
the reservoir sites and the regulations for
the use of the same under control of the
states in which the sites are situated.
The bill, as amended, was then passed.
The house entered upon the considera-
ton of the contested election case of Hop
kns VS.. Kendall, from the Tenth Ken
lucky district, based upon the use of an
Illegal and fraudulent ballot in Clark
county Without the vote of that coun-
ty Hopkins, republican, would be elected,
and the minority recommended that 1t
be thrown cut and the contestant seated
The majority of the committee, while
condemning the action of the clerk of the
county, who prepared the ballot, do not
believe that the vote should be rejected,
and recommended that Kendall retain
his seat
]. G. Daniels, of New York, addressed
the house in support of the committees
report, and the house, at 4:15. adjourned.
NOMINATIONS AND CONFIRMA-
TIONS.
The senate today confirmed the follow
ing nominations of postmasters:
Georgia-Anna M. Rose, Carrollton.
Texas-Jessie l.. Reose, Velasco: Susan
p. Hyman, Stephenville.
The president today sent to the senate
the following nominations:
Medical inspectors James r. Tryon, to