The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-01-21
SENATE REJECTS
IMMIGRATION BILL
Sent Back to Conference Be.
cause Il Would Bar Jews.
OLIVER STARTED THE FIGHT
Read Protests Against Certificate OF
Character" CIause-Lodge Defends
Measure

Read Protests Against Certificate OF
Character" cIause-Lodge Defends
Measure.
Washington, Jan. 21.-Following
vigorous fight, led by Senator Larol-
Iette, the conference report on the
Burnett-Dillingham immigration Dill
was rejected by the senate because OIL
q clause which, it was asserted, would
exclude majority of Jews from Rus
STA and Rumania.
At the request of Senator Lodge the
bill went back to the conference COM
mittee, which will be asked to el1mi-
nate that feature.
Senator Oliver precipitated the con-
troversy by presenting kilograms from
Judge Mayer Sulzberger, OF Ph1ladei-
phia, former president OF the Amerl-
can Jewish committee, and Louis Mar
shall. the present head Of that Organi-
cation.
The kilograms protested against the
clause which would add to the exclud-
ed clauses, citizens or subjects OF any
country that issues penal certificates
or certificates of character who do not
produce to the immigration officials
such a certificate"
Judge Sulzberger pointed out that
this clause would bar out all Russian
Jews. His telegram read:
Conference immigration bill In Sec
ton three, provision not previously
considered, excluding subjects OF coun-
tries issuing character certificates,
failing to produce such certificates to
the immigration officials. This will ex-
CLUBS majority Jews coming from Rus
STA and Rumania, owing to legal diff
culties attending procurement OF GER
ulcates, compliance with elaborate
conditions imposed there, military reg
ulations and the large expense In
yolved.
"How could victims of Kishineff or
the thousands constantly expelled from
their homes by the police. or those
suspected of being political offenders
expect to secure such certificates?
"Such reversal of our attitude to-
ward prosecuted cannot be intended.
Bill should be amended to preclude
cruel consequences inevitable resulting
from present phraseology."
Replying to the criticism of Judge
Sulzberger, Senator Lodge, in charge
Of the bill, said that the Philadelphia
jurist and Louis Marshall were labor
ing under a misunderstanding of the
situation. He declared that the effect
of this clause would not operate
against Jews coming into this coun-
try from Russia, for the reason that
Russia issues no such certificates. The
only country which issues such certifi-
Gates, he said, is Italy, and it shows
that the holder has not been convicted
of any offense.
He pointed out that the government
had asked Russia for such certificates
and that Russia had replied that no
such certificates were issued and that
it would be impractical to issue them
Senators Stone, % German and Sim
/ mons Joined the ngnr on the cert.u
cate of character" clause. Senator La
Toilette declared it went far beyond
the purpose of the supporters of the
plan and turned over to other coun
tries the determination Of what class
of emigrants should be acceptable in
the United States.
He asserted that Russia could pre-
vent its people leaving for the United
States by refusing to issue certificates
of good character. Russians who now
come to the United States surrepu.
tiously, he said, would under the new
| provisions be excluded.
Russia does not want these people
seeking freedom admitted to the Unit.
ed States" he said, land believe tina
is why some others do not want thela
admitted, for these people arc a men
ace to plutocracy and there are GER
tain people in this country who do not
favor encouraging the menace to rlu-
tocracy."