The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-03
The immigration Problem.

The immigration prODieHl.
1t is announced by Major Carson in
the Philadelphia Public Ledger that
President Cleveland will probably veto
the amended immigration bill which
has lately passed the house and is to
be acted upon today in the senate The
reason for this alleged purpose of the
executive is said to be certain features
of the first section of the bill, which
provide that all persons physically
capable and over 16 years of age who
cannot read and write the English
language, or the language of their ma
tive or resident country, shall be eX-
cluded. Exceptions are made in favor
of the parents and grandparents, but
while the grandparents of the qualified
immigrant would be admitted the wife
who cannot pass the educational test
would be excluded The clause pre-
sCribing that immigrants shall read
and write the English or the language
of their native or resident country is
said to be also Objectionable In the
Baltic provinces of Russia a large pro-
portion of the people use the German
language, and while many of these
can speak the Russian they cannot
read or write it. The Baltic provinces
We're acquired by conquest by Russia,
but the people have retained their orig
inal language, and it is taught in their
schools and colleges. Russia is, how
ever, the native or resident country of
these people, and they would be eX-
cludcd under the terms of the bill, not
withstanding their education in the
German language.
The same, Major Carson says, is true
of many people in Hungary and Bo-
hernia whose language is German and
not Hungarian or Bohemian 1t is fur
ther claimed that the bill would eX-
cudc many immigrants from Alsace
and Lorraine, both of which countries
are now under the German empire, and
the native or resident language of
which is German. The people of AL
SAGE and Lorraine are French, and
many of them are unable to read and
write the German or any other Ian
Euage than French. 1t is understood
that the purpose in employing the
words cor the language of their ma
tive or resident country was to eX-
clude the Jews who inhabit the lower
provinces Of Russia. An unsuccessful
effort was made in the house to SO
amend the bill as to admit the wife Of
a qualified immigrant, regardless Of
educational qualification, placing her
on the same footing with the parents
language of the educational test by
providing that immigrants should be
able to read and write the English or
some other language.
The senate today should avert a veto
by sending the bill again to confer
ence with it's conferrees instructed to
insist upon provision for the admission
of immigrants who can read and write
any recognized language. AS to the
denial of admission to illiterate wives,
there is much to be said in its favor.
The mothers Of this country should be
able to teach their children; Ameri-
can hospitality may with prOpriety
object to the entrance from foreign
countries of women unable to do this.
''"N ~ OI"'l ~ ''SHIci NhS Hdl uSlllIS
of those who are kept out by this pro-
vision, the new law might properly
make steamship companies responsible
for the return of literate husbands
when accompanied by wives rejected
for illiteracy. This would make those
companies careful not to sell tickets
to couples not fully qualified to pass
muster at our ports, and would prevent
the "heartrending separation of hus-
band and wife" concerning which OPP
ponents of immigration restriction are
so eloquent.