Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-02-16
:
AMENDMENT AIMED At
IMMIGRATION TO SOUTH
South Gets Sadly Tangled Up in
BIZ Which includes Ca|ifoP.
nia-Japan Measure.
DIRECT BLOW AT STATES RIGHTS
Senators TlIman and Bacon Make
Strong Speeches Urging the Defeat
Of the Measurc--severaI RepubIr-
cans Announce That They Will
Not Vote for It.
a.. Associated Press !

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb 15.-
An agreement to vote tomorrow on
The conference report on the immi.
grafton b,N which includes the pro
vision intended TO settle the Go.i.
lorn1a.Japnese question: was re.
horted in the Senate today as the
result OF an entire day OF discuss.
Ion on THAT measure.
;, me principal speeches were de.
hvered by Senator Bacon and Till
man, in. opposition to what they
regard as AN effort to prevent the
South from getting desIreable
class Of imm.gIants.
Senator Tillman's remarks on the
Japanese situation brought a warn.
ing FROM Senator Lodge. who said
mat If desired he should make the
discussion behind closed doors.
Senator Gaylinger expressed sur
Prise that the conference should
contend that they had not injected
new matter into the Japanese re-
por and Senator Carter said he
shostld vote against the report en-.
ttrely ON that ground and predicted
ITS defeat Both Messrs. Bacon and
Illlman disclaimed to conduct any
nihDuster and many other Demo-
cratic Senators stated that If the
georgia Senator and; the South Car
DINA Senator did entertain such a
pgGpose they would not favor them.
During the debate a member of
the cabinet who was on the floor
told the Senators that the subject
of State immigration had received
the attentions Of the cabinet at it's
meeting today and that there had
been a general conclusion THAT the
terms OF the bill will not require
new ruling in The South Carolina
case.
Explaining the precise point O.
MS objection To the report, Mr.. Ba.
con said that under tile ruling OF
the Department of Commerce ana
Labor, the contract labor clause of
the Immigration laws have been so
construed as to permit the State
immigration agent of South Caro-
ma to receive contributions from
private trsdividuals and use the mon.
eS To encourage and assist immi-
grafton. Extended preparations
were being made by other Southern
States to take Advantage of THE in
depreciation. All that was expected,
he said. was that the law be al
lowed to remain as 1t now is.
Lodge Says It Will Be Beneficial.
The conference report will pre-.
Vent action by a State. Mr. Lodge
said there had not been the slight
est intention on the part of the
conference to modify in any way
the clause which gives power to
a State to take steps to induce
immigration. There was he said.
no Intention on the part of con-
ieeres to limit the rights of the
States. The clause which does not
limit contract labor, but strengthen.
cd. Is without any reference to the
States
Referring to the South Carolina
system, the said that If the system
as maintained There was not a State
which could not under guise agen-
cy with funds provided by railroads
and manufacturers introduce any
number of contract kborers.
Mr.. Lodge had no doubt that many
State would he quick to take ad-
vantage OF the South Carolina rul-
ing This ruling of the aadepart-
ment he regarded as a CLOSED case"
and believed 1T might have been
presented differently and with a
different result. If the present bill
strengthened the contract labor
Raw, he was glad of it.
Mr.. Bacon Rguin expressed reg7'eat
that the Pacific coast provision was
coupled with the Immigration amend
nients. It. was not necessary to
save resorted 10 this expedient. He
believed a separate measure could
have received a unanimous vote
Mr.. Gallinger expressed sympathy
for the situation In the South and
sustained Mr Bacon's contention
that the situation was one of EN-.
barassnent as he should feel COM
PEELED to vote fop the report be-
cause of The Pacific coast provis.
ion.
Mr.. Bacon entered upon detailed
discussion of the amendment to
which he objected saying 1t utterly
isilfifcd tie principal claim of the
law.
The pitchfork is Out.
When Mr.. Bacon concluded Mr..
1iillman began a discussion of the
South Carolina system but indicated
that his main purpose. was to re
view another part OF The confer
ence report. Everyone supposed
that tiris immigration bill was dead "