Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-11
California Legislators Yield to
Presidents Desires.
VOTE IN HOUSE VERY CLOSE
Decision Is Reached After a Long
and Bitter Debate.
RESOLUTION DEFINES POSITION
Declares Action Is in Difference to
Washington and Does Not Pref
udice Right to Legislate.

SACRAMENTO. February 11.-After one
OF the storn1iest debates ever known at
the state capitol the assembly late yeSter-
day afternoon. by a vote Of 43 to "a, de
cided to reconsider the Johnson bill pro-
viding for separate schools for japanese
children and then, by vote OF Al TO 81.
killed the bill.
This was accomplished largely through
tho influence Of Gov. Giliett and Speaker
Stanton Of the assembly, who had called
all influential members into conference
and labored to convince them that the
passage of any anti-Japanese bill at this
time would result In prejudicing the whole
country against California and might even
lead to the revocation of the exclusion
law against the Chinese.
Early in the day Speaker Stanton, Drew
OF Fresno and Tansue of Los Angeles
called Assemblyman Grove johnson into
conference and tried to convince him that
he should withdraw his bill. Johnson was
obdurate and not only declared that he
wouldn't withdraw his measure. but that
he would put up the best fight possible to
secure It's final passage should majority
vote to reconsider it.
When the assembly met the large hall
was crowded with excited spectators. An
effort was made to have the anti-Japanese
debate take place in executive session,
but this plan was knocked out promptly.
Resolution to Reconsider.
Transue of Los Angeles presented a
resolution TO reconsider the Johnson
bill. His resolution was very long, and
it specified very plainly that the school
system OF California is an institution
Of the state control OF which has not
been granted to the federal government.
He made long speech in support Of
his resolution. and. with other things.
said:
We have 1t from the highest author
ity that the legislation proposed should
not be enacted We cannot be told all
Of the reasons why the bills should not
be passed, but We have been told enough.
The least We can do is to concede that
the government has good reasons for
asking that the bills be defeated"
Young Of Berkeley urged that Cali
fornia give the federal government two
more years in which to settle the Japa-
nese question.
Then followed an acrimonious debate
among members some urging that the
bill be reconsidered and defeated in order
that the President be left with free
hand. while others declared that Cali
fornia should rebuke Roosevelt for his
intervention and should decide school
masters for herself without any dicta-
ton from the federal government. The
debate was prolonged until o'clock and
was taken up after recess. 1t was 4
manded.
Attempt to Censure President.
In the senate Marc Anthony of San
Francisco introduced a resolution
verely censurins President Roosevelt for
his criticism Of Senator Perkins and
lauding Perkins for his work in favor
of an increase in the navy and of coast
defsnses. Anthony evidently intended to
ho1 nl11ffn
floor, but 1t was promptly referred to
the judiciary committee. OF which he is
a member.
After the school bill had been killed
Johnson called up his motion to reconsider
the vote by which the anti-alien land bill
was lost This was voted down. This
disposes of all the anti-Japanese bills in
the assembly, In the senate the school
bill Is still pending, but It will be dis
posed of.
japanese Census Now.
Gov. Gillett is much pleased with the
work OF the assembly. He said:
I'VE shall now proceed with the meas
ure appropriating $4,000 for the labor
commissions, to take the census of the
Japanese In California. We wish to have
incontrovertible facts in regard to Jap
anese immigration if we come before the
next Congress to apply for the exclusion
of all ASiatics.
Under the agreement between Japan
and our government the former is pledged
TO restrict immigration as much posi-
BILE If Japan had grounds for abrogating
this arrangement and decided, in view Of
the unfriendH acts upon tine part of the
California Legislature to remove these
restrictions on the emigration of her peo-
pie, all our ports would be open to the lat
ter. If then we went before Congress and
asked the east for support for a general
Asiatic exclusion law. the latter might
hnt
had the situation well in hand at one
time. through federal negotiations, and
lost our advantage by the acts of our leg
islature against the wishes of the Presi-
dent and the Secretary of State.
Advised by Perkins.
Assemblyman w. Il. Griffith of Los An
Eeles county, who Is close personal
friend Of United States Senator George c.
Perkins, and who telegraphed the senator
that he opposed Japanese legislation at
this time. and asked for an expression of
opinion from Perkins, received the fol-
lowing reply today:
III not inconsistent with your views l
hope you will consult and cooperate with
Gov. Giliett. who l am sure has at
heart the honor and welfare of our state
and of the entire country. Treaties made
with foreign nations become the supreme
law Of the Jand."
On the strength Of this message Griffith
sideration of the vote by which the school
segregation bill was passed
Text of Transue Resolution.
The full. text Of Assembiyman Transue's
resolution. which was adopted. A.; to "a.
follows:
Whereas il has been represented by
the President Of the United States that
the passage of this bill Uhe Johnson bin
will, in some manner undisclosed, disturb
the relations now existing between the
government of the United States and the
government of Japan, and
Whereas the President OF the United
States made known to this assembly
through the governor Of this state and
through the speaker of this assembly his
wishes that said bill be not passed and
Whereas the President OF the United
States has caused II to be represented to
this body that IL IL his judgment that
said bill would conflict with the treaty
nov existing between the government of
the United States and the government of
Ianan and hv Slich conflict IF tho M SC. NJ