The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-03

victims Of the educated agltator. The abil
ity to read aud write as required N this
bill in and OF itself afford. IN my opinion,
a misleading test OF conteiitcd Industry, ana
supplies unsatisfactory evidence Of dcsir-
able citizenship of proper apprehension
of the benefits of our Institutions II nny
particular element OF our illiterate immi-
grafton is TO be feared for other caus's than
ulteracy, these causes should be dealt with
directly instead of making illiterAoy III"
text for exclusion to the detrimeut OF o'n"r
llliterato immigrants against whom the real
cause of complaint can not De alleged
The provisions intended to rid that part
Of the proposed legislation ALREADY rel 'lied
TO from obvious hardship appear to me to
be Indefinite and Inadequate. \ parent,
graniparent, wife or minor chiid Of quart
fed immigrant though unable TO reat ana
write, may accompany the Immigrant or be
sen, for To join his family. provided the I'M
| migrant is capable OF supporting slch f'la
| tive Tboso exceptions TO the general 'u'"
| Of exclusion contained IN the plh WVie
| mnde to prevent the separation of lAmll'5
| and vet neither brother nor sister aie pro-
! ,-ldel f1r In order that relatives who are
! ntoyided for may be reunited those stll III
| foreign lands must be sent Tor 10 JON the
IMMIGRANT here. What fUnasity Is ne
cossary to construe this p'oregulsu' 'nu
how are the facts OF the releuou"ui0 .'u
.rn mo llliterate relatives OF immigrants
Win have come here under prior laws en-
titled to the advantage Of thsse exceptions
A husband who can read and write and
who determines 10 abandon his iiiitera'e
wife abroad Will find here lnd.r this Law
an absolutely safe retreat lh' hllte'd'e
relatives mentioned must mi oniy De sent
for. but such immigrant must De capanio
a supportine them when icy arrive. rms
! he Assumption
that the foreign relatives coming mere are
In every case by reaffl O poverty hapie
to become public chsi rs hhless the I'M
migrant Is capable OF tlIur support me
contrary is often true. And yet II unable
to read and write, though quite apie anu
willing to support themselves ana thei'
relatives hero besides. they could moi Dc
admitted under the provisions ol 'hia OH
if the immigrant we're impoF 'i i,,l H.
though the aid OF his fortunate but llliter-
ate relative might be tho means of saving
him from pauperism' ~
The fourth section Of this bill provides'
e .'That IL shall be unlawful for any male
alien who has not in good falth lhahe ms
I declaration before the proper court OF mr.
. intention to become ciuzoh oil the NH.s''
States TO be employed on any publlc WORMS
r of the United States to come regularly or
: habimally into the uniied states by lana
or water for the purpose OF enghg'hs III
anv mechanical trade or manual labor loi
wages or salary. returning from uhie 'e
= time to foreign country
: Tho fifth section provides; lhat II snail
. no unlawful for any person, pattheish'p
= comunny or incorporation knowingly to EN-
ploy any alien coming INTO th' 'n,tou
States in violation o. inc heA' P''N>""r
section of the act.
= This prohibition against the employment
of aliens upon any public "orhh vi NV
United States is In line with othei iosIsn
n tion Of A like character 1t 10 quite dif-
fereut thing, however 20 declare IL a ci,n'
for an alien to come regularly ana aapi.'
e ually into the United states LOT tie pa!
I rose OF obtaining work from priNale par
, H. if such alien returns from time K
lin, 10 a foreign country and TO eonstltu',
any employment of such alien crimihn
when we consider these provisions OF IN
c hn, In connection with our long Noriherl
frontier and the boundaries OF seNe,a' %
= our States and Territories, Orion pa, a.
, ,nnaginarv line separating them from bll
,sh donroins and recall the friendly inter
course between the people who are nelgh
hore ou either side. the provisions OF I'M
3 hin affecting them must be regarded a'
lilllberal. narrow and un-Amerleap' lh'
residents of these states ana isFF"oil Vt
2 have separate and especial interests, WIZ
| I'm pnsog make an interchange OF nun "
tween their people and their aiie9-5aporer
; most important. frequently WIN the au
vantage largely in favor OF our citi1shs'
= This suggests the inexpediency oil foaera
; Interference with these conditions when no
necessary 10 the correction OF substantial
OWL affecting the general weitare' suoh u'i
friendly legislation as is proposed coui'
hardly fail to provoke fetallatory measure
10 the injury OF many Of our citizens. WI
are now employed on adjoining foreign sou
The uncertainty OF construction TO vine
, the language Of these provisions is sublet
is Il serious object in statute whien de
fcribes crime. An important element
| tho offense sought 10 be created by tines
sections is the coming regularly or habitu
, ally into the United States" These WORD
arc impossible OF definite and certain con
; struc,ion. The same may be of the equal
important words returning from time u
time to n foreign country"
! A careful examination OF this bill ma
convinced me that for the reasons given an
others not specifically stated Its provision
arc unnecessarily harsh and oppressive, an
that its defects In construction would caus
,exation and its operation would result
harm to cur citizens.
fslgned 4 Grover Cleveland.