The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-17
Joint Conference Report
on immigration Bill
Adopted.
Session Enlivened by
Sharp Exchange of
Personal Opinions.

the report of the joint conference on the
immigration bill late yesterday after
noon. a test vote Of A. 10 p had pre-
Viously been taken. The report as
adopted contains the much discussed
passport provision under the terms of
which the President has the authority to
exclude Japanese coolies from entering
the United States by way of the insular
possessions, the. Canal Zone or foreign
countries.
1t is expected the House will follow
the lead OF the Senate without delay
and that the report Of the conferees will
be adopted in that body Monday For
the present, this action of Congress will
in all probability settle the controversy
with Japan, as Mayor Schmitz and the
San Francisco school board have given
the President to understand that when
the immigration bill is enacted the OBJ
nOxious segregation order respecting the
San Francisco schools viii be so mod
flied as TO meet the wishes OF the Japa-
nese.
Japan Not Thoroughly Satisfied.
To all appearances. the solution af-
forded by the passport provision Of the
dangerous international disagreement.
There is stiu one element Of difficulty
in the situation. even though this coun-
try has practically done its part toward
an adjustment. Dispatches from Tokyo
say the japanese public is much dis
pleased over the proposed arrangement
and that there is a possibility the Jap
anese government win not indorse this
arrangement.
In Washington. the belief is the Presi-
dent and Secretary Root have 'reassur-
ing advices from the japanese govern
ment. and that the Administration feels
confident that government viii earnest
~ join with it in carrying out the plan
which the Senate sanctioned yesterday.
Test Vote on Party Lines.
The conference report was not adopted
without a test vote on almost strictly
party lines The test was caused by an
amendment offered by Senator Culber-
son of Texas instructins the conferees|
10 bring in a report providing for gen
eral exclusion OF Japanese coolies and
laborers Senator Lodge raised a point
Of order against this and Vice President
Fairbanks sustained IL Senator Car
mack appealed from the decision Of the
Chair and Senator Lodge moved to lay
the appeal on the table. The yeas and
nays were called for and the motion TO
table WAS carried by a to p
A most interesting feature Of the days
debate was that although the Admin
istration desired that the proceedings
in Congress should be such as not to
offend the scnsitiveness Of Japan. the
Democratic Senators kept the Japanese
issue TO the front Senators TiIlmau,
Bacon, Cuiberson, and Dubois repeated
~ referred 10 the japanese issue.
Senator Simmons Of North Carolina,
opened the debate shortly after the
close of routine morning business. This
was about ! o'clock. II was about $50
before hnal vote was reached
TilIman and Hale Clash.
1t was in the midst Of the afternoons
debate that Senator Tillman had a clash
with Senator Hale Of Maine. The Maine
Senator was much offended at remarks
of the ''pitchfork" statesman. Senator
Tillman was proceeding to score the Re
publican Senators for changing front
since the rate bill conference report of
last session on the subject Of what
might go into a conference report. He
singled out Senator Hale and read re-
marks of that Senator as found in last
sessions Record in which he strongly
opposed introduction Of new legislation
into the conference report on the rate
bill. Senator Tillman prodded Senator
Hale vigorously. He read from his re-
marks To the effect that a conference
committee was not a legislative body.
and that dangerous and disastrous re-
suits would follow if such a committee
were given undue latitude
Senator Hale was aroused by Sen
atOr Tlllman's remarks 10 protest that
he had said nothing to warrant the
South Carolina Senator in assuming he
had changed his attitude since last
June. To this Senator Tilman retorted
that Senator Hale had given him to
understand in the clOakroom what
course he would take. This led Senator
Hale to make vigorous objection to re-
failing private conversation on the floor
end for some minutes there was a tense
and dramatic situation
Western Senators United.
Senators Carter, Lodge, Stone, Gull
berson, Flint. Perkins. Beyeridge. and
Clark all spoke. The Western men
were united in picturing the menace
Of an Oriental invasion as serious. The
Democrats thought il ought to be di-
rectly and more frankly dealt with,
the Republicans urged that the pro
posal Of the conference committee
met the necessities Of the case. and.
therefore, that il ought TO be ratified
4 laugh went around the chamber
and galleries when Patterson Of Col
oradO had read a telegram from his
State, complaining that if the supply
Of cheap labor be excluded, it would
ruin the beet sugar industry. The de-
voted sugar beet has served so many
purposes, and been sacrificed Tor 50 /
many sins of politics. that Offering il
as vicarious sacrifice now in the /
cause OF peace with Japan was too /
much for the gravity Of the Senate.
Senator Carmack's Remarks.
Senator Carmack was at his best 1
when he rose for a - moments ex- /
coriation of the Administration. His 1
adjectives flowed with Unwonted ease /
and rhythm even for him. Il fully agree |
with the criticism Of this report" he /
said Its purport is plainly that for
eign power has brow-beaten the United l
States into forcing a State TO surrender /
its sovereign right to control its do
mestic affairs. Toward California. the
Administration has been harsh trucll-
lent, and offensive; toward JaDan If
mas been cringing. obseuuious and al
most pusillanimous 'u a
Speak soft. and carry q hio- ..t{cl,
is favOrite motto of our President A. |
parentlv his application of Il is 10 Sneatr