Evening star., 1898-12-10
CLOSING THE DOOR
Prospects of the Senate Bill to Re-
strict Immigration.
EXCLUSION OF lLLIlERArE PERSONS
Labor centers Calling for PrOtec-
ton From Foreigners.
THE COMMITTEES REPORT

The friends Of the bill to restrict immi-
grafton expect to get that measure up for
consideration in the House soon as ia
vorable conditions exist. The bill is priv
ileged and can be called up at any time,
but its sponsors desire to choose a day
bers.
The bill derives its privileged character
from being d Senate act, remaining on the
Speakers table subject to a motion to con-
slider or refer to a committee.
The attempt to pass the bill will be Wig
orously opposed but its friends claim that
1t can muster majority when the roll is
called. The bill was passed by the Senate
last January, and has remained the
Speakers table since.
Iiliterate Persons Excluded.
The bill excludes from admission to the
United States all persons physically capa-
bic and over sixteen years of age who can
not read or write the English language or
some other language; but a person not so
able to read or write who is over fifty years
of age and is the parent or grandparent of
a qualified immigrant over twenty-one
years of age and capable of supporting
such parent or grandparent may accom-
pany such immigrant, such a parent or
grandparent may be sent for and come to
join the family of a child grandchild
over tWenty-One Years of age similarly
qualified and capable, and a wife or minor
child not so able to read or write may ac-
company or be sent for and come to JOIN
the husband OF parent similarly qualified
and capable.
For the purpose of testing the ability of
the immigrant to read or write, as required
by the foregoing section the inspection Of
ficers shall be furnished with copies of the
Constitution of the United States, printed
on numbered uniform paSteDoard SIPS,
each containing not less than twenty nor
more than twenty-five words of sand Con-
stituton printed in the various languages
of the immigrants in double small plca type.
These slips shall be kept in boxes made
for that purpose, and SO constructed as to
conceal the slip from view, each box to
contain slips of but one language, and the
immigrant may designate the language
in which he prefers the test shall be
made. Each immigrant shall be re-
quired to draw one of said slips
from the box and read, or afterward
write out, in full view of the immigration
officers, the words printed thereon Each
slip shall be returned to the box imme-
diately after the test is finished, and the
contents of the box shall be shaken up by
an inspection officer before another draw
ing is made.
No Immigrant failing to read or write out
the slip thus drawn by him shall be ad-
mitted, but he shall he returned to the
country from which he came at the eX-
pense of the steamship or railroad COM
pany which brought him, as now provided
by law, and shall also transport with him
the wife, children and other relatives here
in mentioned who came with him, if they
desire.
The inspection officers shall keep in each
box at all times a full number of said
printed pasteboard slips, and in the case of
each excluded immigrant shall keep a GER
tilted memorandum of the number of the
slip which the said immigrant failed to read
or copy out In writing. If in any case, from
any unavoidable cause, the foregoing slips
are not at hand for use the inspection Of
ficers shall carefully and thoroughly test
the ability of the immigrant to read or
write using the most appropriate and
shall state fully in writing the reasons why
the slips are lacking, and describe the sub
stitute method adopted for testing the abil-
ity of the Immigrant
Not Applicable to Cuba.
When the bill passed the Senate it pro-
Vided This act shall not apply to persons
arriving in the United States from any port
or place in the Island Of Cuba during the
continuance of the present disorders there
who have heretofore been inhabitants of
that island. The act is to take effect three
months after its passage.
VIII Keep Out Dangerous Persons.
The operations of the proposed law will
exclude, it is claimed, a large percentage Of
dangerous immigration. In 1897 the per-
centage of illitcrates among immigrants ar
irving from European nations was %. 49,
and in number 42, 15t. They We're distrlb-
uted among the states in these percentages:
North Atlantic states, 5.G5 per cent; south
Atlantic states, 3.33, north central states
15.l6; south central states, 2.45; western
states, 3.S3.
The Committees Report.