New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-01
California Senators Advance
Webb Measure, Which
Proves StriCter than
Original.
FEAR OF SUPREME COURT
Legislature breads the Posi-
bility Of Japanese Being
Naturalized-Grape
Juice Solaces
Secretary.
fBy Telegraph to The Tribune

lBy Telegraph TO The Tribune
Sacramento. Cali Apy,u 3O.-As A pre-
ventive of anti-alien legislation Secre-
tary of State BryFs.y~trip to Califor-
MIA has proved complete failure.
Three minutes after Mr. BRYAN had
finished his message TO the California
Legislature late last night the Senate
had gone to work to pass Attorney
General Webb's substitute for the
Birdsall bill to second reading-a sub
stitute far more drastic against the
japanese than the Birdsall bill.
In the regular order the bill will be
put on its final passage in the upper
house tomorrow. 1t will be opposed
by Senator Leroy A. Wright, the big
man of the regular Republican minor
ity. but his efforts can result in moth
ing more than some fiery speechmak-
ing, and the passage of the bill Is then
assured by a substantial majority.
The majority programme is expedi.
ton. The amended bill will come ur
for final consideration in the lower
house on Saturday. and can be brought
up for nal vote on Monday
Although the Webb substitute pro.
yides a permissive statute relating tc
aliens eligible TO citizenship instead of
one directly prohibitory to aliens in
eligible to citizenship, IL raises a lease
bar not raised by the Birdsall bill. al
belt the limitations are precisely those
imposed in the existing treaties be-
tween the United States and japan.
China and other nations whose subjects
are ineligible.
May End Existing Colonies.
In the case of the Japanese thew mr.,
prohibited entirely from acquiring @,
holding land for farming or agricult-
ural purposes, and il is declared the
passage of the act will put an end not
only to the growth Of japanese farm
ing colonies, but eventually to the colo
nies themselves.
This purpose of the act is effected in
two ways:
Frst-On the deatI, of an alien land
owner, the bill provides that his own
ership ceases and that the property
must be taken over by the probate
court and sold TO the highest bidder.
Under its terms an alien cannot be-
queath real property except to a citizen.
The proceeds from the sale Of such land
= rifctrihntaH n %ka l. L..
Secord-No leases whatsoever are
permitted. Originally it was planned
TO permit leases covering maximum,
period of three to five years. but the
Webb act denies this opportunity for
colonization by aliens and provides that
any lease of agricultural lands is sub
ject to escheat to the state on the day
it is begun. To make this more effec-
tive, the bill provides that when suit
is begun to escheat such leases. the
court shall appraise the lease. sell the
property at a forced sale, and pay the
value Of the lease into the state. The
remainder of the proceeds shall 90 to
the citizen owner Of the land.
II is held that this section Of the act
will be absolutely prohibitory upon all
leases of agricultural lands, whether
for gardening purposes or otherwise.
Fear of Naturalization.
Senator Wright, who will make the
hoor fight against the Webb substitute.
declares that the language of the bill
is merest subterfuge on that score
none pretends to take issue with him.
In fact. the ineligibil.ty OF the Japanesel
TO American citizenship is the keynote|
and the strength of the Senate bill
The Progressives admit that the bill
would be abortive If the Japanese|
should establish their right to natural |
ization by an appeal TO the SupremeI
Court
Washington dispatches indicating
that the Wilson administration would
welcome the bringing of such an action
have done more to perturb the Cali
fornia legislators than the visit of Mr.
Bryan.
California is extracting a great deal
Of amusement for yesterdays denoue-
ment. and particularly in regard TO
Speaker Young's dinner 10 Governor
Johnson and members Of the Legis-
lature, at which Mr.. Bryan said:
g" shall take back to Washington I'd
President Wilson a message Of how
California has treated his represent
ative. What a delightful message il vii
be, too. | will tell him how tho Leais
lature and the Governor greeted his
envoy in the Same spirit in which hs
was sent. ! cannot help but feel graft
fled at my reception"
Mr.. Bryan kept away from the Leg
islature all day yesterday. He had
announced that he had come TO Cali
fornia to stay until the question wa
settled. Both houses Of the Legisla
ture went about their regular bushes
as IL Bryan had not come and as
there were no anti-alien land Law
question pending. Meanwhile Attor
ney General Webb had prepared hi
substitute, submitted il TO the Cover
nor and the Progressive leaders and
Mr.. Bryan had been apprised OF 1t