Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-03
California Legislators Hasten
Measure Barring Those In
eligible to Citizenship.
HOUSE READY TO ADOPT
AND GOVERNOR TO SIGN
Bill Under Debate Duplicate of One
Approved by the Upper
House.

SACRAMENTO. Cal. May 3.-Gov.
johnson is expected to have in his hands
tonight an alien land law barring jap
anese and other aliens ineligible TO cit
izenship from the soil OF California. He
has agreed to delay signing IT, bill until
opportunity shall be given for hearing
whatever protests President Wilson may
desire to make. In the governors own
words. this delay will cover q reason
able time probably not more than ten
days. certainly not more than thirty.
Although the act is designed to exclude
all aliens ineligible to citizenship, 1t is
drawn in conformity with treaty obliga-
lions and guarantees to every alien his
full treaty rights emitting the phrase.
ineligible to citizenship" objected TO by
Japanese.
With this program on the cards. the
assembly picked up today the work
sideration Of the "Bloodgood bill
which Is identical with the Webb
draft of the anti-alien bills passed
early this morning by the senate.
Plans Of Floor Leaders.
1t was planned by the administration
floor leaders in the lower house to
adopt the same procedure followed
yesterday in the senate and to begin
at once the long debate that must nee
essarily precede conclusive action. The
effect OF the senate's almost unani-
nous decision was expected to hasten
the vote.
Since the Bloodgood bill is identical
with the senate bill already passed il
Will be sent on passage at once to the
committee on enrolment there TO be
compared with its companion MEASURE
When the identity Of the two acts has
been verified the committee will report
mill he
tura
The administration anti-alien land
holding bill drawn by Attorney General
Webb passed the senate at l2:45 o'clock
this morning by vote of IS to 2, after
nearly ten hours Of debate. The only
negative votes were cast by senators
Cartwright. democrat. and Wright, re-
Provisions Of the Bill.
The principal provisions Of the ban
are ~ follows:
1. Aliens eligible to citizenship may
| acquire and hold land to same extent
as citizens.
2. All other aliens are limited to the
specific rights conferred upon them by
the existing treaties between the United
States and the nations OF which such
aliens are citizens or subjects In the
case OF the Japanese, the bill prohibits
ownership or farming or Agricultural
lands, while permitting them to own resi-
dences and factories, manufactures and
shops
3. Leases OF agricultural lands by
| such aliens are permitted for a period
Of not exceeding three years. There
10 q 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.
8. The state specifically reserves Its
sovereign right to enact any and all
laws in future with respect to the ac-
QUESTION Of real property by aliens.
Effect on Present Holdings.
s. Present holdings of ineligible
aliens are not affected except that
they cannot be beQueathed or sold TO
other aliens classified among those not
eligible to citizenship.
In the closing hours of the debate pArti-
sanship was lost sight of. Democrats
and progressives voted together in re
Spouse to what they took to be the de-
mand OF the people of California. Their
only difference In the end was over the
question of whether the bill was drastic
enough.
The futility of Secretary Bryan's mis-
sion was shown in the vote of his own
party Nine of the ten democrats voted
contrary to the advice which he brought
from President Wilson, while not a sin
gle progressive yielded to his expressed
wishes.