New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-17
H4LE AND TILLMAN SPAR
Sharp Debate Precedes Vote on I'm
migration Bill
Thy The Associated Press. ]

Washington. Feb. Is-The debate the Immk-
grafton bill in the Senate to-day was opened by
Mr. Simmons Of North Carolina. IT shall vote
for the report" he said. because I believe the
South Will not suffer unoer its provisions" He
believed the demand for labor in the South had
been overstated by Senators Bacon and T4llman
although he said his state could use sixty thou
sand more agricultural and twenty thousand cot
ton factory laborers.
Mr. Simmons placed a higher importance on
maintaining the amity and good feeling which he
said had always existed between the South and
the Pacific Coast on labor AMI other questions
thsn on any disadvantages to his own section
which might result from the changes made in the
immigration law Nevertheless, he regarded the
change IN the contract labor provision as not prop
erly in the report. and expressed the opinion that
the conferrees had exceeded their authority.
Senator Dubois opposed the passport provision.
II do not think" he said, the President Of the
United States ought TO be allowed 20 legislate di-
rectly as he has done in the case Of this pro-
vision" II the clause meant the exclusion OF
japanese laborers he said. 1t would not be salts
factory TO Japan. II it did not mean this. II would
not be satisfactory 10 the Pacific Coast lie favored
the resolution offered by Senator Cuberson yeser-
day instructing the conferrees to bring in a meas
ure specifically excluding japanese laborers. The
provision in the bill, he said. was makoshft. and
he predicted that within week after IT'S adoption
the people OF the Pacific Coast would be camoring
FOR Japanese exclusion. Mr.. Dubois said lie had
no prejudice against the japanese
A
r.ports that the opposition Of himself and Sena-
tor Tlman 10 the conference report had been with
drawn under pressure from Senator Aldrich TO
save or secure appropriations in the River and
Harbor bill.
Referring briefly 20 the labor situation in the
South MIR Bacon said: The fact cannot be cons
cealed that there is a serious and growing Jealousy
on the part of the manufacturing industries IN
Massachusetts against the growing and increasing
manufacturing interests OF the South. There Is
disposition 20 interfere with the Iurther develop
ment Of those industries of the South. and no
more sure method could be adopted than that
M. TiiIman interrupted Mr.. Bacon TO get some
Fl see in the morning papers" he began refer
ence 10 the big stick making threats of an extra
s9n unless Ness { YdS reeS ea to h99eR @
10 Senator Crane orders about the River and Iiar-
yeorgia items Well South Carolina has much
IN that bilI-Ceorgia may have whole nam Of the
beef I notice also that the Cabinet met some
time Yesterday and that ii reported the conclusion
that the changes made IN ne immgretion law
the South Carolina case perhaps the senator from
ahers the WRite House and on
telephones, may tell whether the Cabinet did
Here Mr. Tiiiman paused for answer. SEN
stor Lodge made sign OF replying.
remarked Mr.. Tillman; and then after another
silence Well, have tried TO- geI some eniighten-
As the result OF further interruption OF Mr..
Bacon by Mr. Gilman. somewhat strained stua-
lion deveoned between the South Carolina Senator
and Mr. Hale. Mr. Tillman read Mr. Hales state
rnent condernning the conferrees the Rate bill
FOR bringing IN new matter. and closed by saying:
Il shall be wofully. wofully, wofully disappoint-
ed If the Senator from Maine does not stand by his
wise and proper decision last June. but shall
change and become an opportunist"
Tmsn ana Bacon on the able manner in which
the debate had been conducted He had not felt
ator had no ground to say ne had changed his at
when Mr. Tillnan insisted he was justified in
presumlng change by the Senator's silence. Mr..