The Washington herald., 1907-02-19
ANTI COOLIE VOTE
House Adopts Conference Re-
port on immigration Bill.
ALL DAY DISCUSSION Hal
HaIr-spIIttinE Appeals to PTecedents
Finally Led TO General Acquies-
cence In a Vote and the Report
Was Approved by 1S7 to IO1-CaIi-
fOrnia Members Satisfied.

AFTER an ail-day debate, mainly on tne
parliamentary situation OF the conference
report on the immigration BILL under
which the question of excluding Japanese
coolies from the United States is deter
mined, the House yesterday adopted the
report by 1s7 to l01.
This settles the whole controversy which
! has occupied the attention Of the Senate
and House the past week. The bill goes
now to the President for his approval,
and when it becomes law he has the
power. when he is advised that Japan or
any other country is issuing passports to
/ its citizens for the purpose Of going to
any of our insular possessions. intending
/ 10 proceed from there 10 the mainland OF
/ the United States, to refuse to allow such
! persons TO enter the country.
Promptly upon its converting yesterday
/ the House received a message from the
/ Senate announcing that that body had
adopted the report of the committee Of
/ conference on the immigration bill. and
| Mr.. Bennett. of New York. called up the
report from the Speakers table for ac-
! ton.
Points Of order generally were reserved
by Mr.. Burnett. OF Alabama. a member
Of the Committee on immigration, and by
Mr. Bartholdt. of Missouri, to section AZ.
| fixing the amount Of space to be allowed
| each passenger and the proportion of
/ light and air to the amount of deck space
/ The reading Of the substitute bill having
/ been completed. Mr. Burnett made points
/ of order against the proviso giving the
/ President power to forbid the entrance OF
aliens whose presence would be hostile TO
/ the best interests Of American labor. and
to section q. The points of order were
/ based on the contention that the matter
described was new. and not included
/ within the scope Of the propositions sub
mitted to the conferees.
Mr.. Williams. the minority leader sus-
tanning the point of order. argued that
nothing was better settled than the prin-
/ ciple that conferees could not legisiate
! And there was nothing regarding these
two points IN either the Senate or House
/ bill. He quoted a ruling by Speaker Hen
dersou In the Fifty-seventh Congress on
/ a conference report on claims bill. which
/ included d claim not previously considered
/ by either House.
Does the gentleman think that ruling
! in point here?" asked Speaker Cannon.
There might be a question as to the
extent 10 which the ruling goes" replied
Mr.. Williams. but there can be no doubt
Of the applicability OF the language 10
/ the pending bin"
PreCedents Appealed To.
Mr.. Watson, Of Indiana. the Republican
whip, from several claimants for recog-
milton was selected to lead the fight for
the authority OF the report He spoke
/ briefly. forcibly. and acceptably to the
majority asserting that the question
should be decided upeH> principle and
! precedent alone. Hines Parliamentary
/ Precedents." which Mr.. Williams had
/ just said he and the Speaker on a mem
orable occasion had agreed was a greater
repository Of parliamentary knowledge
than either Of them or both combined
was his authority. The quotation was a
decision made by the Speaker in 1876 up
on conference report made by Robert
G. ScheHck. Of Ohio, upon the Freedman
Bureau bill The circumstances ne as
serted. were on all fOurs with those OF
the pending measure. The House had
adopted an entire substitute for a senate
bill; The Senate had disagreed. and the
whole subject. therefore. was before the
conference for action. just as in this case;
and the conferees. as In this case. brought
in report dealing with the whole sub
Ject OVeTruling a point Of order against
that report. the Speaker said that under
the conditions governing the conference,
/ the cOnferees could report either the
House bin, the Senate bill. neither Of
them, anything contained in either. or an
entirely new measure (Applause)
Who was that Speaker" asked Mr..
Rhodes, of Missouri
Schuyler Colfax. of Indiana" replied
Watson
Does the gentleman claim under that
ruling that the conferees could have re-
ported bill repeating the Chinese ex-
clusion act?' asked Mr.. Burnett
They could have reported any bin
relating 10 immigration replied Mr.
Watson
The gentleman asks hypothetical
question" said Speaker Cannon. ''The re-
port specifically excerpts the Chinese ex-
ciusion law in its repeating clause"
But suppose it hasn't?" quizzed Mr.
Burnett
OH said the Speaker impatiently.
What is the use OF asking about what
might. could. would. or should have oc-
eurred?- UaughterD
With characteristic readiness and ges-
lures. the Speaker announced his readi-
ness 20 rule. and did so. after a brief
statement Of the facts and a reference to
the precedent quoted by Mr. Williams in
the decision Of Speaker Henderson on
claims bill. The point of order was
overruled
Docs that include the point against
section 40" asked Mr. Bartholdt.
1T includes everything" shouted the
Speaker, at which there was great laugh
ter.
Mr. Burnett appealed from The decision
of The chair and Mr. PAYNE, OF New
York, moved "a lay the appeal on the
table. which was zone by vote of 1876
TO 1h4- thus sustaining Tie chair
Mr. Williams warned The CaTforuians
of something which they already knew.
ne said. and that was that the views of
the President We're rot their views.
This man. said Mr. Williams. TO
whom you have left this discretion in the
matter of Japanese inspection is one who
has already recommended the naturaliza-
ton Of the Japanese
MT Hayes. OF California a member of
the Committee on immigration. was heard
with interest 10 state his position and
that or his colleagues on the pending re- I
port. Il am one of those members OF the /
House he said. who is entirely satisfied
with this report. and who is not satisfied /
that il meets the situation" Among the /
important pro- isions he was pointing out
was an amen2.nent to the contract-labor /
law, when Mr.. Burnett interrupted TO ask
what Mayor Schmitz and the San Fran /
cisco school officials had agreed to.
Il cannot state" said Mr. HAYES /
None of the members Of the California
Congressional delegation was a party 10
the conference with the President. and. I
therefore, are not entitled to any of the
credit that should be given them for their
patriotic efforts to remove the friction be- +