New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-03
IMMIGRATION BILL VETOED.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND DIsAPPROvES
THE RESTRICTIVE MEASURE.

HARSH AND oPPREssfvE-THE PROHIBITION
on ALIEN LABOR DENOUNCED AS IL
LIBERAL. NARROW AND IN
AMERICANA VETO MESSAGE
SENT TO THE HOUSE
Washington, March 1.-The President sent the
following message vetoing the immigration bill
TO the House late this afternoon:
To the House OF Representatives.
herewith return without approval House BIZ
No. 1851. entitled AN act to amend the Immisra-
ton laws of the United States
BY the nrst section OF this bill II Is proposed TO
amend Section l OF the act OF March 3. 1891 reiat-
ing TO immigration. by adding to the classes OF
aliens thereby excluded from admission TO the
United States the following: All persons physical
y capable and over sixteen years OF age VINO can
not read and write the English language or some
other language but a person not so able TO read
and write who is fifty years OF age. and IL the
parent or grandparent Of a qualified immigrant
over twenty-one years Of age and capable OF sup
porting such parent or grandparent. may accom-
pany such immigrant. or such a parent or sTanu-
parent may he sent for and come to JOIN the iahi-
fly Of a child or grandchild over twenty-one years
OF age similarly qualified and capable. ana wi'e
OF minor child not able to read and write may
accompany or be sent for ana come and join the
husband or paren; similarly qualified and capable.
A radical departure from our National pohc! re-
latng 10 immigration IS here presented Hereto
fore We have welcomed all who came to us from
other lands except those whose moral or physicdi
condition or history threatened danger to our Ma
tIonal welfare and safety. Relying upon the Jeal-
Gus watchfuness Of our people TO prevent INJURY
20 our political and social fabric. We have encohr-
aged those coming from foreign countries 20 cast
their lot with and join In the development oi ou'
vast domain securing In return n share IN 'he
blessings of American citizenship. century STU
pendous growth. largely due to the assimla'
and thrift OF miors of sturdy and patriouc
edoped citizens attests the of this gener-
GUS and handed policy. which. while guarding
the peoples interests. eXacts from our immisra"'S
only physcal and moral soundress and willing
ness and ability 10 work.
A contemplation OF the grand results OF this pol
lev cannot fail to arouse sentiment in its de-
fence; for however IL might have been regarded as
an original proposition and viewed as an expert
ment it's accomplishments are such that II IL IS 10
be uprooted at this late day. its Disadvantages
should be plainly apparent. and the SUBSTITUTE
adopted should be just and adequate. free from
uncertainties. and guarded against difficult or OPP
pressive administration.
NO EXCESS OF POPULATION.
II is not claimed ! believe that the time mas
come for the further restriction OF immigration on
the ground that an excess OF population overcrowds
our land II Is said however. that the quai'y Oh
recent immigration IS undesirable. Inc une 10
quite within recent memory when the same 'l''is
wa. said of immigrants who with their desceho-
ants are now numbered among our best cIuze"S'
IL f. said that TOO ma ~ immigrants settle IN oui
cities thus dangerously Increasing their Idle and
vicious population. This is certainly disadVah-
tage 1t cannot be shown, however that II aHects
all our cities nor that Il IS permanent nor does u
appear that this condition. where IL exists demands
as It's remedy the reversal OF our present 'ii"'s'a
ton policy.
The claim is also made that the influx OF foreign
aborers depriyes OF the opportunity to WORK tnose
who are better entitled than they TO the privilege
Of earning their livelihood BY daily toll An uh-
fortunate condition is certainly presented Wheh
any who are willing 10 labor are unemployed bu'
so far as this condition exists among our peo-
nj. II must be conceded 10 be result OF phenome-
nal business depression and the stagnatoh OF al
.nterprises In which labor is factor. WIN 'he
advent OF settled and wholesome financial ana eco
nomic governmental policies. and consequent en-
,,rarc-,en, to the activity OF capital. the msfor-
tunes Of unemployed labor should TO great eX-
tent at least: be renedied. II IL continues us
natural consequences must be TO che1N the iur-
Their immigration TO our cities o. forelgh aooIers
and 10 depete the ranks OF those already there'
In the mean time. those most willing and bes' en-
,t.,ed ouqh, 10 be able 10 the advantages OF
sucn work there Is 10 90.
EDUCATIONAL TEST NOT APPROVED
II ,s proposed by the bill under consideration 10
meet the alleged difficulties OF the SITUATION oy
establishing an educational test by when the fehI
~ a foreigner to make his home with US sha.i De
determined Its general scheme IL 10 proiloi' I'm
admission TO our country all immigrants physi-
oarIy canabIe and over sixteen years OF age VINO
oa,not read and write the English language or
.ome other language" and II Is provided thal 'h''
test shall be applied by requiring Immigrants seeH-
ing admission 10 read and afterward 10 write not
Ices than twenty nor more than twenty-five "orus
NJ The Constitution OF the United states III Soio
language and that any immigrant falling IN TINS
sbai no, he admitted but shall be returned 10 the
country whence he came at the expense Vi Wv
steamship or railroad company wnich proush' Hi.''
Tho heat reason that could be given for TINS radIc
cal restriction OF immigration is the necessity OF
protecting population agains, & nortnd
savnff U Uo and disorder cannot believe that we
would be protected against these evlis Dy ,.
INN fangmage twenty-five words OF our Constitu-
ton. In my opinion. 1t Is lntneLy NOR, rshe 70
road and write seek among US only nome hIu
opportunity TO work than to aGs one T cor
troll who can not only read and write but deligns
in arousnr by spfeca ana 5ns tams
ai V6Ience and disorder do not originate with Hitter
aborers They are r n , ,o read and vr
as required in this bill in and OF ITSELF: aTGpds' m
d;s,ry and supplies unsatisfactory evidence OF Ge-
slrable citizenship or proper appreciation o! .e
nnt q, our illitorate immigration Is 10 be feared
FOR other causes than iterncy these causes should
ba
~ ,,etext for exclusion the detrment OF other
fIiterate immigrants against Wnom the rehI cause
Of complaint cannot be alleged
INDEFINITE AND INADEQCATE' PRONl-
sIONS.
The provisions intended to rid that part OF the
nroposed legislation already referred 10 from obVi-
Gus hardship appear to 10 be indefinite and IN
adequate 4 parent grandparent. wife or minor
child OF qualified immigrant. though unable 10
read and write. may accompany the immigrant or
he sent for 10 Join his family. provided the mmi-
grant is ca pablo Of supporting such relative These
exceptions 20 the general rule Of exclusion con
tared in the bill were made 10 prevent inc sepata-
go ~ antilles and vet neither brothers nor
sisiers are provided for. In order that relatives