The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-02
PASSING OF WEBB
BILL WAS DELAYED
At Request of Democrats the Matter
Was Put Over for Day in
California Senate.

Sacramento. CAL. May Am indlea-
tion Of the form the Democratic opPosl-
tion will take to the passage OF the
Webb re-draft OF the anti-alien land bill
was given in the Senate yesterday When
the measure came up for final action.
It was the original plan OF the pro-
gressive Republican majority in ITS as
surance OF a successful issue TO force
the bill to vote at once, but at the re-
quest of the Democrats postponemeht
OF one day was granted at the last MN
ute.
In return for the delay the admins
tration leaders received a pledge from
the minority that it would abide by the
results as shown in the final roll call to-
dav and not demand reconsideration.
Thus the Progressiyes feel that although
apparently they lost day, in reality
thev have saved several by ehefking
further efforts to impede their plans.
The brief debate yesterday on the
motion to postpone disclosed the tact
that the Democrats have hardened to the
advice from Washington, as delivered
by Secretary of State Bryan, and will
make a formal stand in support OF the
national administration. In order to
meet the issue squarely, Senator curtin,
Democrat, introduced a resolution setting
forth the fact that President Wilson ls
opposed to the alien land bill and in
Guiding the following declaration:
"Be il resolved that the people OF the
state OF California do hereby defer to
the wishes of the president of the United
States and this legislature will not at
this session pass the bills herein men
toned"
1t is believed generally that to the ex-
tent Of supporting Curtin's resolution
the Democrats will defer to Secretary
BRYAN. Beyond that, however, their
party platform. in California calls upon
them to aid in the enactment of an
anti-alien land law and most of them
are expected to cast their votes for the
Webb bill in its present form, ii it sue
ceeds in escaping amendment.
Attorney General webb's Statement.
No apprehension was aroused by the
warning against the Webb bill teie-
graphed to Governor johnson by Presl-
dent Wilson. Attorney General Webb in
a statement last night said:
Il have been shown the president s
telegram to the governor TO the effect
tnat the proposed land bill might in
volve an appeal to the courts and it has
been in the minds OF everyone having
to do with this subject of legislation,
since the beginning of the session, that
any character of bill must necessarily in
volve the same thing.
mo method of avoiding an appeal to
the courts by the parties interested has
occurred TO us and if the federal govern
ment is advised of the existence of a way
to avoid this question without a COM
plete and unwarranted surrender of the
rights of the state. il is TO be regretted
that such method is not pointed out by
the telegram.
IF this act should be passed, ] quite
realize that hereafter some person
might contend for greater right than the
act would seem on its face to give him,
and in that case it would be quite proper
for the courts to pass upon the question.
am at a loss, however. at this time to
understand how the federal government
could become in any way involved in or
he responsible for such a contention"
Secretary Bryan has declined to dis
euss the question raised by the president.
There is much interest in the future
movements OF this secretary Of state,
who has given out no word as 10 his inn
mediate plans other than to say that he
expects to remain in Sacramento "for
several DAYS"