The Washington herald., 1908-01-21
OPPOSED TO ALIENS
Hepburn Terms Them Unde-
Sirable Citizens.
WOULD RESTRICT THE INFLUX
Bourke Cochran, of New York, Re-
pIies-HOuse spends Whole After
noon in Discussion of bill to Build
Immigrant Station in Philadelphia
j. w. Gaines Attacks Majority.

''The immigration into this country Of
the class Of citizens who are now flock
ing here Is one Of the gravest questions
with which we have TO deal said Rep
resentative Hepburn, on the floor Of the
House yesterday. The House had gone
into the Committee of the Whole to dis
cuss a bill introduced by J. Hampton
Moore, of Pennsylvania, providing for the
erection OF a $4,000 immigrant station in
Philadelphia
IF ! could have my way, it would be
restricted. continued Mr.. Hepburn, and
there would be but three ports Of entry
IN the country-New York. New Orleans,
and San Francisco This trouble is
brought on by steamship companies. that
advertise anything in Europe 10 fool per-
sons into coming 10 America. The ad-
vertisements I have seen in the papers
IN Europe are such as to mslead the
ignorant, and all aid the government
gives 10 immigration is aid TO the steam
ship companies. that go 70 any extremes
10 continue their business. These people
are undesirable citizens, and I, for one,
want It stopped"
This brought on a discussion that lasted
all afternoon, and the House did not take
up the penal code bill, as had been in
tended. Mr.. Moore's bin, however, was
finally passed.
Bennet Defends Measure.
Mr. Bennet, of New York, defended the
measure. on the ground that now il is
impossible 10 properly enforce the alien
laws in Philadelphia. and the steamship
companies take undeslrabies there for
that reason.
Ntr. Cochran CDem.. y. " replied 10
Mr. Hepburn. He asserted that the aver
age European laborer did not come into
competition with native workingmen: on
the contrary. he said the native work
man was lifted on the shoulders OF the
former. so that a bricklayer in New York
could earn s. for eight hours labor be-
cause man, foreigner usually. who
could be hired for less money. carried his
bricks to him.
one result OF the discussion was TO in
tTOduCe q number Of new members as
orators First among these was Nr Muir
ply tDem.. WIS.,. who defeated Repre-
sentative BabcOCk. for twelve years
chairman Of the Republican CongTes-
sionaI Campaign Committee, who eloquent
ly pleaded for free and unlimited immi-
grafton. Wisconsin, ne said, had mill
lions of acres Of land waiting 10 make
homes for them In his district seven
languages We're spoken. and there Were
TO Undesirables among the speakers. His
own father had been an immigrant and
he did not believe the country was any
the worse for his coming or Tor his work
In helping 20 develop his adopted State
Mcmillan an Immigrant.
Mr. Mcmillan Rep., \. YJ, himself an
immigrant. who had, as he expressed il.
mounted every rung Of the ladder also
advocated liberal immigration laws.
However" he added II do not want
any atheist, or NihIIist, or anarchist. or
any other Ist,' except workist, TO come
in"
\ speech by Mr.. Byrd Dem, Miss1,
favoring restriction of immigration, was
the means of bringing Mr. Favrot Dem,
La) to the notice of the House. From
opposite or conflicting viewpoints these
gentlemen expressed the opinion that. if
immigration into the South could
be restricted and the negroes be dis
tr.buted throughout the country. the pro-
duction boy the remaining agricultural
class would be worth muCh more iu the
market than il is now.
At this point the debate was per-
mitted 10 wabble. and Mr Gaines Dem.
Tenn was given an opportunity to dress
down the majority leader for wasting the
time and money. at the rate of ne didn't
know how many hundreds Of thousands
Of dollars day, and not giving the mem
bers chance % discuss the currency
question. Then he proceeded TO den0unce
the thieves and robbers Of Wall Street.
who had destroyed the prosperity OF the
people and deprived them 81 the right
10 90 to the bank and get all the money
belonging to them on demand.
Gaines Accuses Majority.
He charged the majority with studied
purpose 10 prevent action on the currency
question, and referred TO a newspaper
article in which it is said that such a
conviction was general in Washington and
New York. 70 prove his assertion. Mr..
Gaines was interrupted by Nfr Euster-
man Rep.. Wis.,, who fourished a sheet
Of paper in his hand.
The gentleman from Tennessee he
began, wanted 10 know, a little while
ago. how much ii costs the people Of the
United States TO run Congress. took the
trouble TO figure it out, and find that il
costs $50 a minute. So far the gentleman
has been an expense Of $500 That for
his information"
This thrust was received with shTieks
OF laughter on both sides. but il had no
effect in stopping the flow Of cloquence
Mr.. Gaines got into q cOlloauy with Mr.
Prince rep. IllD. of the Committee on
Banking and Currency. over the delay in
reporting a currency bill which closed
with the assertion that "If you will let
DR.. Gaines and his friends run Congress.
We viii not run il in the interests Of those
who have brought ruin and panic upon the
country, and viii have a relief bin ready
by Saturday night"