The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-18
NO BIC STICK. !"
Mr.. Burnett Objected to Giving
One to President.
Would WELD 1t Over State on
immigration Question.
HOUSE Is In, LINE.
to Conference Report on
the Measure.
Action Is Preceded by an Ex-
citing Debate.

Washington, Feb. 1S.-An appeal OF
Mr.. Burnett, of Alabama, against the
ruling of Speaker Cannon, relating to
certain sections in the immigration
bin, was laid on the table.
| After reading the report Represen-
tative Burnett (Ala.) made points of
order against the first provision. which
undertakes to regulate the incoming
of Japanese coolies by giving the pres
ident authority to refuse to recognize
their passports and also against the
whole of section AZ, having relation
to the air space of the vessels bringing
the immigrants to the United States.
AS to the first proposition Mr.. Burn
nett insisted that the authority con-
ferred by the section on the president.
put in his hands a "big stick" which
he could WELD over state. He de-
| clared that it gave the chief executive
| a power which was never contemplate
ed by the constitution nor by the en-
abling 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 regulating the immigration OF
aliens into the United States.
Mr.. Bennett On. " in charge of
the conference report, contended that
the points of order made against the
two provisions should not lie, because
the provisions had been considered by
the house in other bills and had really
been considered in connection with
the immigration bill.
Mr.. Williams (Miss.) said that the
provisions relating to alien admission
as affecting the question of mixed
schools in California, had been in
jected into the bill to avoid possible
foreign complications. and that it was
a matter which neither house had had
an opportunity to discuss.
Personally. he said. he was with
California in the stand 1t had taken re-
garding the right of Japanese to at
tend the white schools, and he would
stand by the people of California, as to
the manner In which their schools
should be conducted.
Speaker Cannon advised Mr. Will
liams that in discussing points of or
der. politics should not be considered
and that the only thing in controversy
the conferees were properly in the
bill.
Mr.. Williams Submits.
Nr. Williams bowed. II yield to the
wisdom of the chair" he said, but L
give notice that I am going tca talk
about the matters contained in the
house substitute to the bill and I shall
take the side of California
Mr.. Watson read from a decision
made by Speaker Colfax which sus-
Ldlned the right OF the cOnrereeS to
introduce new matter in a conference
report provided the subject had re-
ceived consideration even in connec-
ton with some other measure He
took the ground that the sections in
dispute were in the bill as matter of
right. Mr. Bennett On. Y.) supported
the report on the ground that the
whole immigration question had been
thrown into conference.
Mr.. Burnett asked the speaker if the
whole Chinese exclusion law could not
be repealed by a conference report
"Oh. why does the gentleman ask
about that. which might, could or should
happen" replied the speaker amid
laughter.
The speaker then cverruled the points
of order on the ground that the con-
ferees had been wholly within their
rights when they agreed to substi-