Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-30
California Senate Adopts
Draft Conforming to
Treaty Rights.
BRYAN NOT SATISFIED
No AIIusion to IneligibiIity of
Citizenship Included in
Draft.

Sacramento, Cal, April 30.-Caltfor
MAS first step towards the enact
ment Of an alien land law contrary
TO the advise of Secretary Bryan and
President Wilson was taken last night
within three minutes after Bryan told
the legislative conference that his Of
fee had spoken. The senate, before
which the irdsall-Thompson bill was
pending, met in hurried session, and
within three minutes voted TO substi-
tute that measure for the new draft
known as the Webb act completed by
Attorney General Webb yesterday.
The substitute was adopted as an
amendment and the bill sent 10 the
printer with rush order. Owing to
the absence of Bryan. who is a guest
OF the Panama-Pacific Exposition COM
pany. at San Francisco, II is the plan
of senate leaders TO take no further
action on the bill until Thursday, when
il comes up In me regular course of
business and undoubtedly will be
passed. 1t is said. Then it will go to
the assembly and finally 10 the gov
crnor. who has stated he will sign the
measure at once.
The phrase, ineligible TO citizen
ship" Is avoided in the Webb bill by
providing two descriptions of aliens
and defining the rights OF each, as
follows:
"First. All aliens eligible to citi-
senship may acquire and hold land in
The same manner as citizens of the
United States, ,..,....-
Second. All other aliens may &C
auire, possess or transfer land in
manner, TO the extent and for the
purposes prescribed by any treaty
now existing between the United
States and the nation or country of
which such alien is citizen or sub
ject."
As the treaty between the United
States and Japan specifies that land
may be acquired or leased only for
residential purposes, or for factories
or shops. the act is held to be a rigid
restriction upon the acquisition of
farming lands by Japanese
Is OLD BIRDsALL BILL.
Sacramento. Cal, April 30.-The
alien land bill adopted by the senate
last night, is known as the Webb bill,
but is in reality the old Birdsall bill,
with several provisions passed upon
by Attorney General Webb inserted.
Such portions of the Birdsall bill as
we're not in conflict with the new draft
submitted by the attorney general
were allowed to stand.
Attorney General ". S. Webb draft
ed the new measure at the suggestion
Of Governor johnson and q copy was
given TO Secretary Bryan.
The term ineligible to citizenship"
which was declared to be odious to the
Japanese, was not included and pro
gressive republican leaders are conf
dent they have arrived at a solution of
the problem that will receive the en-
dorsement Of President Wilson.
Secretary Bryan declined 10 com
ment upon the new bill except at the
conference
CHANGES MADE.
The principal features Of the bill are
as follows:
First-All aliens eligible TO citizen.
ship may acquire and hold land in the
same manner as citizens OF the United
States Those that are eligible TO cit
lzenship may acquire and hold land
in the manner and 10 the extent and
for the purpose prescribed by any
treaty now existing between the Unit
I'd States and the nation or country OF
which such alien is a citizen or sub
ject"
rd-Corporations composed oi
aliens other than those who are eligi
BILE to citizenship. may acquire and
hold lands according TO the terms Of
existing treaties.
Fourth-Present holdings OF aliens
regardless of their rights TO citizen
ship. are protected.
Fifth-The state specifically reserves
its sovereign right TO enact any anC
Nu laws relating 70 the acquisition ol
holding OF real property by aliens.
Attorney General Webb worked upor
the theory that there could be no oh
lection 20 writing into the California
statute the specific limitation OF th'
Japanese treaty Of 1905.
SERVES THE PURPOSE.
Under the terms OF this treaty. Jap
ansse subjects are permitted 10 owl
houses aud lands for residential pur
poses. factories. manufactures anC
shops. according TO Mr. Webb. Anoth
Cr clause permits Japanese subjects q
lease land for residential and CONNER
oial purposes. These are the onll
s,ipulauons made. and it is the belle
2f the attorney general that the righ