The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-01-18
THE LODGE BILLPASSED.
New immigration Measure Goes
Through the Senate.
MR., W0LCOTT ON BIMETALLIsM.
The Senator Explains the Failure to
secure an international Agreement.
He Says Secretary Gage Does Not
Represent the Presidents Views.

He Says Secretary Gage Does MOI
Represent the Presidents Views.
Washington, Jan. 1S.-Features of
yesterdays proceedings In the senate
were the speech delivered by Senator
Wolcott, of Colorado, chairman of the
bin,etallic commission, upon the nego-
tations of the commission with Eu-
ropean countries relative to interna-
tional bimetallism, and the passage Of
the Lodge bill restricting immigration
Into the United States. The proceedings
were the most interesting and import
ant that have characterized any single
days work of the senate during the
present session, and the galleries were
crowded at an early hour
Senator Hanna appeared at the open
Ing of the session. Mr.. Foraker, the
senior senator from Ohio, presented Mr.
Hanna's credentials for the remainder
Of Mr.. Sherman's term, which will eX-
pire on March 4, 1899, and asked that
the oath Of office be administered to
him. Mr.. Foraker escorted his colleague
to the desk, where Vice President Ho-
bart administered the oath.
At the conclusion of the morning
session Mr. Wolcott began his ad-
dress. He was in fine voice and COM
manded the earnest attention of his
auditors. His address consumed an
hour and fifteen minutes, and during
that time not senator or representa-
tive-and many of the latter were pres
ent-left the chamber. Senator VOL
rott explained the failure of the
commission to secure an interna-
tIonal agreement by saying that its
efforts were undermined by the reports
received in England from this country.
He declared that he felt sure of Presi-
dent McKiley's sincerity in the desire
for an international agreement, and
that Secretary Cages statements were
at variance with those of the president.
He vigorously scored the Gage currency
bill, and declared that "it will reach
limbo before it reaches the senate"
Referring directly to Secretary Gage
he said:
"The selection Of the members Of his
Sflcial household is the presidents own
sffair, and SO long as he stands upon
The question of bimetallism where he
has ever stood, there Is no serious
ground for apprehension. But even In
the inconceivable event that the chief
magistrate of this people should in the
exercise of his Judgment determine to
nountenance the final fastenings upon
This country of the burdens Of the gold
standard, trust we may still find war
rant for faith and hope in the pledges
Sf the party and the wisdom of its
rounsels. We will cross our bridges
when we come to them. The time when
this country will submit to the final
Imposition of gold monometalism is far
away"
At the conclusion of the speech Mr..
. Wolcott was instantly surrounded by
his Republican colleagues desirous of
rendering him congratulations.
The immigration bill was then taken
up and discussed until o'clock. An
amendment offered by Mr. Spooner, Of
Wisconsin, providing that the ability
on the part of the immigrant either to
/ read or write should be accepted as a
. sufficient test of his literacy, was adop-
Grad by q vote of ~ to %. Another
LanendmeH by Mr. Spooner providing
that the members Of the family ac-
4 Conpanying an Immigrant rejected un-
Z der the conditions Of the bill should
: BE- returned 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 vote Of 45
: to 2S.
The bill as passed provides that all
Immigrants physically capable, and
over Is years Of age, shall be able to
read, or write the English language or
come other language but a person not
able to read or write who is over so
years of age, and is the parent or
grandDarent, may accompany the i'm
migrant, or the parent or grandparent
may be sent for and come to join the
family of the qualified Immigrant; and
wife or minor child not able to write
may company or be sent for and
come TO join the husband or parent who
Is qualified. The act does not apply
to persons coming to the United States
from the island of Cuba during the
continuance of present disorders there
who have heretofore been inhabitants
pf that island.
Yesterday was District of Columbia
fav in the house, but only three bills Of
local Importance were passed. The re-
maindar Of the session was devoted TO
further consideration of the army ap-
propriation bill. The debate was partic-
ularly notable for vigorous speech by
Mr.. Mcclellan, Of New York, son of
General George 3. Mcclellan, attack
Ing the present army organization as
obsolete an inefficient. He asserted
that we were wofu!y unprepared for
war should a crisis come, and contend
ed for modern methods Mr.. Lewis, of
Washington state, also made a speech
that attracted attention in dcnu. cia-
lion of trusts, which he declared were
threatening the liberties Of the country.
The consideration OF the army appro-
prlation bill was not completed.