New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-16
IMMIGRATION BILL SAFE
Sendte agrees to Vote on 1t Before
adjournment To-day.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau 7

washington, Feb 15.-The fIibuster which
Senators Bacon and Tirnan have been conduct
ing against the immigration bill, which contains
the all-important provision making possible the
exclusion Of Japanies coolies suddenly and un-
expectedly faded away in the closing hours Of
to-day's session of the Senate. and unanimous
consent was given, at the suggestion of Senator
Patterson, that vote be taken tomorrow before
adjournment. This Of course, insures the enact
nent Of the bill as reported
Just before Mr.. Patterson made his request
Senator Carter declared his conviction that the
Senate was setting unfortunate precedent by
adopting so much legislation put into a bill
by the conferrees. Mr. Carter's objection was
aimed chiefly at the Incorporation in the Immi-
grafton bill OF a section Of the navigation law
this being the section in which It is provided
that the amount Of cubic air space allowed
Storage passengers must be increased - per
cent. To obviate this objection, a resolution viii
be introduced in the Senate tomorrow and
promptly adopted authorizing the conferrees to
make this Change
Democratic opposition TO the bill as reported
was not abandoned until Senator Lodge had
entirely uncovered the fact that the antag-
onsm OF the minority was based on the belief
that the bin reported would make it impos-
sible for the cotton and other manufacturers Of
the Southern States to defeat the purpose Of the
present law and import contract labor as they
have been doing in the past
IMPORTING CONTRACT LABOR.
Under the recent decision of Secretary straus
q state may import contract labor although the
individual is prohibited from so doing
The legality Of this decision is gGavely uues-
toned by the ADLER lawyers of the Senate. but
the method recently employed in South Caro-
lima, whereby private individuals placed in the
hands of the state officials the funds needed to
fare Of the immigrants if they were not satisfied
is clearly in violation OF the Contract Labor
law, and is a practice which would soon have
become a grave menace to American labor were
Il not checked by the strengthening of the Anti
Contract Labor law.
Juet what led Senators Bacon and TiIlman to
abandon their flibuster IS not exactly clear al
though their action probably due TO several
causes For one, the Republican leaders had
caused it TO be known that a continuance of the
hlibuster would lead to the complete elimination
Of South Carolina and Georgia from the provi-
Eions Of the River and Harbor bill, and this
proved probably the most effective factor An
other was doubtless the fact that the President
had declared he would call Congress in special
session II The immigration bill failed.
Senator Tillman, in closing his remarks, said
he was not so much opposed TO the subject mat
sought 70 press IL through the Senate, and this
statement would appear 10 confirm the general
impression that Mr.. Tinan was anxious 10
settle some old scores because of the way he
was castigated when, chairman OF the con-
ference on the Railway Rate bill, he brought in
a report said to contain legislation. The
Senator from South Carolina certainly secured
considerable enjoyment by having the remarks
made by various Republican Senators at that
time read from the desk.
MAY BE NO DIVISION.
1t Is believed that not more than half a dozen
Democrats will vote against the immigration
bin when # is placed on passage. and # is pos
Hble the measure will go through without divi-
sion. Speaker Cannon mas assured the Secre-