Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-22
CANNON OPPOSES IT.
Immigration Bill Which Is Now Pend.
 ing Before the House.


 Washington, D. C., June 22.---No more curious situation has arisen during the present session of con- gress than that on the pending inmi- grafton bill. In every possible phase, in both the senate and the house of representatives. the bill has been con- tested throughout the winter. Final- ly, the senate passed the measure and it now is pending before the house. Speaker Cannon is known to be opposed to 1t. He has been consistent in his opposition to the bill and, for time, it appeared that it had no chance of consideration by the house. setts championed the measure in the house and insisted that it be given its day in court. He was backed in his demand by powerful lobby The United Order of American Mechanics and other similar organizations have had representatives in Washington all winter and spring urging the enactment of the legislation. It was urged by the American Federation of Labor as one of the bills in which or ganized labor in the United States was particularly interested. President Samuel Gompers of the Federation of Labor, accompanied by a commit tee of the executive council of the or ganization, called on the president and requested him to use his irflu- epce to. secure the passage of the bill. Tke president favors the cna0tment of the measure and has so informed congress.
 house, tremendous pressure has been brought to bear on that body to de- feat or radically amend it. Objection is made to the proposed head tax and to the educational feature of the bill. Both the president and the con- gress have been urged by delegations representing Jewish, German, Italian and Irish societies throughout the country not to permit the bill to be- come law in its present form. The societies are opposed particularly to the educational clause of the meas ure, maintaining that, if enacted and enforced 1t will exclude from this country many desirable immigrants, who are needed, especially in the south, for the proper and homogen- eous development of the country.
 The United Order of American Me- chanics and other so-called patriotic societies are working strenuously for the passage of the proposed legisla- tion and they have developed great strength in the house. Speaker Can- non at first declined to permit the bill to be considered at this session. The attitude of the speaker induced the friends of the bill to circulate a call for caucus of republican rlem- bers to determine whether the bill should or should not be taken up. A sufficient number of signatures was secured to insure the caucus. Then the speaker consented to have the bill taken up under rule and it will be given consideration very soon. Whether the measure will pass the house is yet problematical. that Is, in its present form. Thousa nds of let ters and telegrams are being received by members of the house in relation to the measure and a change in sem timent during the past few days Is noticeable. The change is against the Dlils UuA NutNucI it VIII bt cumtlcut to defeat it only the vote on the leg islation will disclose.
 oddly enough. those chiefly cp- posed to the educational paragraph of the measure are the best educated citizens of foreign birth. while those who are advocating It are In many instances scarcely now able to speak. much less write the English language. The latter class regard the proposed law from purely materialist.c view point. They do not want additional competition with their labor snd. therefore. want to keep out of this country their less fortunate country men. Of course. the steamship com panies are opposed to the legislation and are exertinE all the influence they can bring to bear to defeat 1t.
 The chances seem to be. however. that the measure will pass the house. as some of the strongest men Ia the body favor it. IL is imrateriai to discuss whether their attitude Is ss- sumed because of principle or be- cause they fear the force of orzaniyei labor and the patriotic societies. The rpsuIt ia inst the same