The Tupelo journal., 1907-02-22
IN CONGRESS
THE JAPANESE QUESTION.
President Suggests Clause in Imri-
grafton Bill Now Tending.

Washington, d. C.-That the San
Francisco school question will be set
tied 0 o is the general opinion in
official circles. Mayor Schmitz and his
associates received a message from
the president saying that he desired to
confer with them at the White House.
1t Is stated that President Roosevelt,
through Secretary Root, has proposed
to Speaker Cannon and to the chair
men of the senate and house commit
tees on immigration, and other repub
lican leaders in congress, that a clause
be inserted in the immigration bill
now pending in congress which will
bar Japanese coolie labor from the
United States. Mayor Schmitz's dec
laration favors such a proposition.
Secretary Root is preparing the
proposed amendment to the immigra-
ton bill, which will exclude all Asias-
les coming from the Philippine islands
and the Hawaiian islands from ad-
mission to the mainlands of the Unit
ed States. Laborers coming direct
from Japan to this country are now de-
MED passports, and the only way they
have been able to gain admission to
this country has been by first going to
the Philippines or Hawaii and later
coming to the United States. 1t IS
learned from a high official source
that this arrangement, which is only
intended to exclude the Japanese la
borers, until a new treaty a be me-
gotiated with the Toxic government,
has been accepted by the japanese.
Representatives Bartholdt and
Shackleford had an interesting colo
guy, which amused the house Monday
afternoon, during debate on a local
street railway bill. The house was sit
ting as a board of aldermen for the
city of Washington and the District of
Columbia. Each Monday is district
day. in the house, when local meas
ures are considered. Shackleford,
since Minority Leader Williams de.
posed him from membership in the
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce, has been a member of the
District of Columbia committee. The
hill hAfnr1 ~ lo,,eo Monde n,o Mod
a right of way to a suburban line ove
certain streets of Washington, and
Shackleford was speaking on an
amendment, which he had induced
Representative James of Kentucky to
offer, fixing the rate for passengers
at three cents. He was engaged in ar.
raigning the chairman of the district
committee, Representative Babcock of
Wisconsin, and other majority mem
bers of that committee and other com
mittees in general for "smothering''
bills in committee, and relieving his
system of a speech which would read
well to his constituents who never saw
a street car, when Representative Bar
tholdt was moved to interrupt him
with a question.
President Roosevelt sent a special
message to congress Monday urging
the enactment of a law, the draft of
which is included in the message,
which grants white persons, who have
intermarried with members of the
Cherokee nation of Indians, sixty days
in which to dispose of improvements
they have heretofore occupied. The
sale of such Improvements is to be
made only to members of the Cherokee
nation at an appraised price to be fixed
by an official tt be designated by the
secretary of the interior.
Congressman Champ Clark, of Mis-
souri,, declares he will form ~organiza-
ton to secure waterways improve
ments if present bill is killed.
Congressman Mccall, of Massachu-
sets, argues against %usurpation by
national government of powers re-
served to states.
Senator Aldrich introduces measure
designed to give secretary of the treas
ury more power to guard against
money stringency.
The treaty will go direct to the COM
mittee on foreign relations, and there
will be a determined effort to have it
reported and acted upon before the
adjournment of the present session of
congress. Many of the democratic
senators have indicated their willing
ness that this should be done, but
Senator Bacon, who is the leading
democratic member of the senate COM
mittee on foreign relations, has not yet
given his full assent to this pro-
gramme.
Officials of the jamestown exposi-
ton have filed with Secretary Shaw a
contract providing for the disburse-
ment of the 81. 900, 900 loan by the gov
eminent tt the exposition company.
Secretary Shaw accepted the contract,
and the appropriation will be made
Immediately available.
Washington Notes.
After the lively discussion and
passage of a number of bills under
unanimous consent. the house re-
solved itself into committee of the
whole to consider the naval appropria-
ton bill.
The senate in Tuesdays session
occupied the day in argument on the
bill granting the government the right
to take an appeal on points of law in
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