Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-19
IMMIGRATION BILL PASSED
Measure That Provides for Exclusion Of
Coolies has Big ksjority.
La FOLLtTrE SUBSTITUTE IS DEFEATED
House Refuses 10 Set Aside senate
Bin Regulating Hours OF Train
men-RaiIway Mail Pay
Discussed.

migration BILL although the democrats gem
orally made a party issue against the pass
pert provision, as well to that requir-
ing increased air space I'm vessels
The house refused to suspend the rules
and pass the bill recommended by the
Interstate and foreign commerce commit
tee as substitute for the so-called la
Toilette bill limiting employment on rail
roads TO sixteen hours the democrats vot-
ms solidly against the substitute.
Mr.. Overstreet Of Indiana asked that
general debate terminate on the postoffice
appropriation bill at o'clock tomorrow
afternoon, which was agreed to, and at
$40 p. m. the house adjourned until II
oclock tomorrow morning
Immigration Bill Taken Up.
The house soon after converting began
Consideration of the conference report on
the immigration bill. which was agreed
to by the senate Saturday.
An appeal of Mr.. Burnett of Alabama.
against the rulink of Speaker Cannon re-
latng to certain sect.ons in the immigration
bill, was laid on the table by a strict party
vote, ayes 1876; nays, Ia
The conference report on the immigra-
ton bill was agreed to by The house. ayes
1S7; nays 1O1.
After reading of the report, Representa-
tive Burnett (Ala.) made points Of order
against the first provision which under
takes to regulate the incoming of Japa-
nese coolies by giving the president au
thority to refuse to recognize their pass
ports and also against the whole of sec
ton Kill having relation to the air space
in vessels bringing immigrants to the
United States.
AS to the first provision Mr. Burnett in
sisted that the authority conferred by the
section on the president put in his hands
Il big stick" which he could WELD over
a state. lie declared that it gave the chief
executive a power which was never con
templated by the constitution nor by the
enabling act Of any sovereign state.
AS to the second proposition it was Mr..
Burnetts contention that the air SPACE
provision properly belonged In a bill re-
lating to navigation and had no part in
bill regulating the immigration of aliens
into the United States
Mr. Bennett On. " contended that the
points Of order made against the two pro-
visions should not be, because the pro-
visions had been considered by the house
in other bills and had really been con-
sidered in connection with the immigration
bill
There was an extended debate on these
points of order, in which Messrs. Williams,
Watson, Burnett and Bennett participated,
after which the speaker overruled the
points of order on the ground that the con-
ferees had been wholly in their rights when
they agreed to a substitute for both the
senate and house bills.
The conference report was then taken
up for consideration on it's merits, one hour
being fixed for debate.
Williams Opens Discussion.
Mr. Williams (Miss) decided to warn the
people Of California of something of which
they already knew, and that was the
views of the president were not their
views. .t.
This man to whom you have left the
discretion in the matter of japanese immi-
grafton is one who already has recon-
mended the naturalization OF the Japa-
nese," said Mr.. Williams.
II am with the people of California on
the question CT separate schools and l am
with them on another question. I want
the Pacific coast kept a white mans coun-
try, and l want all this country, as far as
IL can be, to be a white mans country, not
merely because l believe the Caucasian is
superior to other races,N but because this
is our land. the land of our traditions and
our ideals and l know that the influx of
another race means another race problem
LOT dnOIneT portion VI TINS republic ana
another social warfare.
81 want to say that every woe which this
country has suffered has resulted from the
landing of the first slave ship at James,
| town"
Attitude of CnIifOrnIans.
| Mr. Hayes of California frankly stated
| that the Japanese exclusion section was
| not just what the people of California
wanted, but said 1t would go very far to-
ward ameliorating present conditions. He
/ said it was temporary expedent which
/ he believed would be followed by much
more satisfactory arrangement. He also
| believed that when the people of Califor-
MIA became familiar with the section they
I too will be satisfied, were the members
OF the California delegation, realizing that
II is the best they can get at this time. He
said the delegation agreed to support the
bill in the interest of the whole country
and in the interest of California and the
Pacific coast.
The conference report was then agreed to.
Ayes, 1s7; nays, 1O1.
The following republicans voted against
il: Fordney, Michigan; Mccall, Massachu-
sets; Mccarthy, Nebraska; Smith, Iowa
The following democrats voted in favor
of the report: De Almond, Missouri; May
| nard, Virginia; Moon, Tennessee; Wiley,
| Alabama.
Refuse to- XIII La Toilette BiII.
| BY a vote of 119 to 60 the house today
under suspension of the rules refused to
adopt the substitute recommended by the
interstate and foreign commerce committee
| to the so-called "LaFollette sixteen-hou
bill" to promote the safety of employees and
travellers on railroads. limiting the hours
of service OF employees. The amended bill
was sent to conference, a two-thirds vote
being required.
Change In Railroad Mail Pay.
The house adopted today a resolution pre-
scented by Representative Overstreet Of In
diana authorizing the clerk to insert a
provision in the pOstoffice appropriation
bill looking to a reduction Of the compen-
sation to railroads for carrying the mail
to take effect July l. in accordance with
the following schedule:
On routes carrying their whole length ar
average weight OF mail per day OF more
than 5000 pounds and less than As, 900, the
rate shall be five per cent less than the
n k9