The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-05-08
JAP BILL IS PASSED
CALIFORNIA SENATE PUTS
THROUGH ANTI-ALIEN MEAS
URE SO To2.
NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE
Gov. Johnson to Wait Reasonable
Time" for Protests From President
WlIson-Text Of Document, Which
Assembly ls Expected to Indorse.

Sacramento, Cal, May 5.-The Webb
anti-allen land bill passed the senate,
SO to 2, at 12:45 a. IN. Saturday. A
companion measure identical in
phraseology probably will pass the
assembly at once and will be signed
by Gov. Johnson after "a reasonable
time" has elapsed in which to hear
possible protests from President VIII
son, who has requested delay. In the
closing hours of the debate partisan
ship was lost sight of. Democrats
and progressives voted together in re-
sponse to what they took to be the
demand OF the people Of California,
Their only difference in the end was
over the question of whether the bill
was drastic enough Senators Cart
wright. Democrat, and Wright, Repub-
lican, voted in the negative.
The futility of Secretary Bryan's
mission was shown in the vote of his
own party. Nine OF the ten Demo
Gratis voted contrary to the advice
which he brought from President Will
son, while not a single progressive
yielded to his eloquence
The principal provisions of the bill
are as follows:
/. Aliens eligible to citizenship may
acquire and hold land to the same
extent as citizens.
2. All other aliens are limited to the
specific rights conferred upoS them
by the existing treaties between the
United States and the nations OF
which such aliens are citizens or sub
jects, In the case of the Japanese the
bill prohibits ownership of farming or
agricultural lands, while permitting
them to own residences and factories,
manufactures and shops.
g. Leases of agricultural lands by
such aliens are permitted for a period
of not exceeding three years. There
is question as to whether renewals
would be lawful.
4. Aliens ineligible to citizenship
cannot inherit land. Upon the death
Of an alien landholder his property
shall be sold by the Probate court and
the proceeds distributed to his heirs.
3. The state specifically reserves it's
sovereign right to enact any and all
laws in future with respect to the
acquisition of real property by aliens.
6. Present holdings Of ineligible
alipno nffartnl hof
they cannot be bequeathed or sold to
other aliens classified among those
not eligible to citizenship.
The Democrats disclosed their plans
and their purposes even before many
of their amendments We're offered.
I'VE are going to vote for your bill
regardless of the form in which you
set it before u.s." cried Senator Camp
bell, Democrat, in the early part of
the debate. The senate is stacked
before us. We know that But in the
end we are for the bill. because we
want an anti-alien land bill"
Friday afternoon the majority had
rejected the Curtin resolution, which
embodied the principal suggestion
made to the legislature by Secretary
Bryan-namely, that the state allow
the federal government to settle the
problem of alien land ownership
through diplomacy.
Senator Wright. Republican. at
night otferd an amendment embody-
ing another of Secretary Bryan's rec
Cmmendations-namely, the Illinois
law, which applies alike to all aliens
regardless of their eligibility to citi-
Zenship and permits ownership for six
years.
You have repudiated President
Wilson's advice once" shouted Sena-
tor Wright to the administration
forces. Now / want you to repudi-
ate it again"
They did. Only five votes were cast
in favor of his amendment.