The sun., 1909-02-11
ANTT.JAPAEESE BILL KILLED
CALIFORNIA HOUSE RECONSID-
Frs AND DEFEATS MEASURE.

Margin Small Because OF Resentment
Against Rooseyelt's Tone Toward
Members Plan 20 Ask Congress for
Exclusion OF AsIatics Not Dropped.
SACRAMENTO. Feb. lO.-After one OF
the stormiest debates ever known at the
State Capitol the Assembly late this after
noon, by q very close vote, decided to
reconsider Grove Johnson's bill pro-
viding for segregatng Japanese pupils
in public schools and then killed the bill.
This was accomplished largely through
the influence OF Gov. Gillett 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 prejudcing the
whole country against California and
might even lead to the revocation Of the
exclusion law against the Chinese.
The vote to reconsider Johnson's bill
was ~ to "a, and the final vote on the
passage OF the bill was Al noes TO 81 ayes.
This strong support for the bill was
due mainly to resentment against Presi-
dent Roosevelt's interference in State
affairs, Not only Assemblyman John
son. but many members who we're luke
warm in favor of his bill, we're wrought
up over the lecturing tone which the Presi-
dent adopted in his kilograms TO Gov.
Gillett and 20 Speaker Stanton. They
took the ground that the President should
have adopted a more conciliatory tone
and not have addressed the Legislature
like an angry schoolmaster reproving
bad boys.
This morning Speaker Stanton. Drew
Of Fresno and Transue 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 hut
that he would put up the best fight pos
sible to secure it's final passage should
a majority vote TO reconsider 1t.
When the Assembly met the large hall
was crowded with excited spectators.
Grove johnson, arrayed like BRIDE
groom. was at his desk ready for action
An effort was made to have the anti
Japanese debate take place in executive
session. but this plan was knocked out
promptly.
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 Ca lifornia is an institution |
of the State control OF which has not |
been granted TO the Federal Government. |
He made a long speech in support Of |
his resolution. and among other things |
said:
we have it 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 10 settle the
Japanese question.
Then followed an acrimonious debate
among members, some urging that the
hat the President be left with a fr ee
hand. while others declared that CAM
'ornia should rebuke Roosevelt for his
and should decide school
matters for herself without any diota-
ion from the Federal Government. The
iebate was prolonged until ? o'clock and
vas taken up after recess. 1t was o. clock
when the vote was finally demanded. |
rhe vote TO reconsider the bill was 43
ives and 81 noes. The vote on final pas I
age of the bill was 81 ayes and II noes.
In the Senate to-day Marc Anthony
II San Francisco introduced resolution
severely censuring President Roosevelt
or his criticism Of Senator Perkins and
auding Perkins for his work in favor of
in increase in the navy and OF coast de-
ences. Anthony evidently intended to
AVE his resolution discussed on the floor, !
mt it was promptly referred to the Judi
iary Committee. Of which he is member.
After the school bill had been killed q
Johnson called up his motion to reconsider d
he vote by which the anti-alen land 7
ill was lost. This was voted down. :
This disposes OF all the ant-Japanese Z
,ills in the Assembly In the Senate the n
chool bill is still pending. but it will be a
disposed Of. q
Gov. Gillett is much pleased with the 7
york Of the Assembly to-day. He said ,
o-night IN
we shall now proceed with the measure "
ppropriating $4,000 for the labor COM d
missioner to take the census of the Jap I
nese in California. We wish 10 have
facts In regard TO Japan n
Sc immigration IL we come before the next 4
congress to apply for the exclusion of all h
h
SENDS THINKS u