Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-18
Mr.. WOLC0IT HEARD
COLORADO SENATE REPORTS ON
HIS EURoJEAN TRIP.
WHY THE COMMISSION FAILED
DUE LARGELY TO THE ATTITUDE OF
CHE LONDON PRESS.
Mr.. woIcott Says international BIZ
netaIlism Is Not a Myth-Sen-
ate Passes the Immigration
I Bill by a Vote of
45 TO Is

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE features of to-
days proceedings in the senate were the
speech delivered by Senator Wolcott, OF
Colorado, chairman of the bimetallic COM
mission. upon the negotiations OF the COM
mission with European countries relative
10 International bimetallism, and the pas
sage of the Lodge bill restricting immigra-
ton into the United States. The proceed
ings were the most interesting and I'M
rortant that have characterized any single
days work of the senate during the pres
ent session. In anticipation of them. the
galleries were crowded at an early hour.
Quite Unexpectedly Senator Hanna ap-
peared at the opening of to-day's session.
Mr.. Foraker, the senior senator from Ohio.
presented Mr.. Hanna'S credentials Tor the
remainder Of Mr.. Sherman's term. which
will expire on March 4, 1899. and asked
tina the oath of Office be administered to
him. Mr.. Foraker escorted his colleague
to the desk, where Vice President Hobart
administered the oath.
Congratulated by His Colleagues.
At the conclusion of the morning ses-
sion, Mr.. Wolcott. at 1850. was recognized
TO begin his address. He was in line voice
and commanded the earnest attention OF
his auditors.
At the conclusion of the speech, Mr..
Wolcott was instantly surrounded by his
Republican colleagues. DESTROYS of tender
ing to him congratulations.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Wolcott's speech
the immigration bill was taken up and
discussed until 3 o'clock. the hour at
which. by previous agreement. it had been
arranged to vote finally upon the amend
ments n the bill. An amendment Of
yorod hv Mr. Cnnnner nf WISCONSIN nrn.
viding that the ability on the part of the
immigrant either to read or to write should
be accepted as sufficient test of his liter
Rcy was adopted by a vote of AZ to %.
Another amendment by Mr.. Spooner pro-
viding that the members of the family ac-
companying an immigrant rejected under
the conditions of the bill SHOULD be re-
turned to the country whence they came
by the steamship companies. was also
adopted. Other efforts were made to
amend the measure. but failed. The bill
was then passed by a vote of IS to IS.
The vote in detail was:
Yeas, Allison, Baker, Burrows. Cannon,
Carter. Chandler. Chiffon. Clark, Davis.
Elkins. Fairbanks. Foraker. Frye. Calm
ger. Hale. Hanna, Hansbrough. Harris.
Hawley, Hoar. Kyle, Lodge. Mcbride. Nc
MILAN. Mantle, Mason, Morrill,. Penrose,
Perkins. Pettigrew. Plat Of Connecticut.
Piatt Of New York, Pritchard. Proctor.
Quay, Sewell. Shoup. Spooner. Teller.
Thurston, Tillman, Warren, Wetmore, VIII
son and WoIcott-5.
Nays-Allen. Bacon. Bate, Berry, CAT
fiery. Clay. Cockrell, Daniel, German, Heit-
field, Jones of Arkansas. Kenny, Lindsay.
McEnery. Mallory. Martin. Mills. Mitchell.
Money. Morgan. Murphy, Pettus. Eawlins,
Roach. Stewart. Turpie, Walthall and
Whites.
Provisions of the Bill.
The bill as passed provides that all i'm
migrants physically capable and over 1C
years of age shall be able to read or write
the English language or some other lam
guage. but a person not able to read or
write who is over SO years of age and is the
parent or grandparent of a qualified immi-
grant over q years of age and capable of
supporting such a parent or g~randparent
nlAs he sent for and come to join the fam
lily of the child or grandchild over q years
of age qualified under the law: and wife
or minor child not able to read or write
may accompany or be sent for and come to
join the husband or parent who is quali-
fed.
The act does not apply to persons COM
ing to the United States from the island of
Cuba during the continuance of present
disorders there who have heretofore been
inhabitants of that island.
Mr.. Wolcott's statement concerning the
work of the monetary commission was
carefully prepared. and was made in ac-
cordance with a purpose announced last
week.
Mr.. WOlcott's Statement.
Mr.. Wolcott introduced his subject by
saying that he was glad to make a state
ment respecting certain phases of the
work of the recent bimetallic commission.
but in SO doing he spoke unofficially. mot
committing his associates in the slightest
degree either to his opinions or deduc-
TONS"
Later in the session. he said. I'VE are
certain TO have ample discussion on the
subject Of silver. and it will probably be
acrid and bitter enough"
In his remarks to-day, he continued, he
must avoid. as far as Possible. anything
which might give rise to controversy.
Taking up the subject of his remarks, he
said that when congress met a year ago.
soon after the national election, there was
a universal expression by the Republican
membership in the senate that the pledge
promote international bimetallism by every
means in its power was an undertaking to
be faithfully carried out without evasion
or delay.
He then gave an account of the appoint-
ment of the commission. saying thai all
three of its members were bimetallists.
Our VIEWS were, ne SdlQ, known to the
president before our appointment. There
was no one of us who did not. and who
does not now, believe the financial question
ov~ershadows all others. and that contin-
ued adhesion to the single gold standard
means only disaster to our agricultural and
commercial interests"
No Lack of support.
The commission had. he said, in its six
months stay abroad, visited only London
and Paris. and he added that, whateve,
measure of success or failure had beer
meted out to the commission. lit had beer
hampered by no lack of authority or sane
ton or administrative support
The language of tho law had been the
al any time" he said. instructions giver
us that sought in the slightest degree Il
change or hamper or limit the full power.
conferred upon us by law. We have been
he continued. ''of one mind and in entire
agreement during all of our negotiations
and our efforts have been Loyalty furtheret
by. our representatives abroad. who were
fortified by strenuous instructions. Ii
England. especially. the able and intellicent
and cordial corporation of our ambassa,
dor was of great advantage in our delib
erations."
Summing up the favorable conditions un
der which the commission operated, Nj
Wolcott said:
We nave had. then. a law broad ant
full IN its powers: We have been free I,
act under its provisions; our views hay,
been identical and earnestly favoring al
.NPRlAGH