Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1913-05-15
PASSAL|ENLANDB| BILL
CALIFORNIA ISLANDS PAT" AND
REFUSES TO BE SWERvED BY
SECRETARY BRYAN.
SUMMARY OF THE BILL GIVEN HERE
Gov. johnson Says He Will Sign the
BiII-Vote Was Almost Unanimous
Official Circles at Washington
Better Satisfied With Bill.


Systematically it's actions Satur-
day afternoon the California senate
| showed a resolute determination, aided
and encouraged by Governor Johnson,
to pass against the recommendations
of President Wilson and his envoy,
| Secretary Bryan, an act prohibiting
Japanese and other aliens ineligible to
citizenship from holding land by pur-
| chase in any circumstances, or by
| lease for more than three years.
| In phraseology, the bill, as redrafted
by Attorney General Webb, after
many conferences with the governor
and the administration floor leaders,
omitted the words ineligible to citi-
zenship" which are offensive to Jap
an, but those in charge of the bill re-
peatedly admitted in debate that the
| end sought was the same.
The. principal provisions of the bill
| are as follows:
1. Aliens eligible to citizenship may
acquire and hold land to the same ex-
tent 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 sub
jects.
In the case of the Japanese the bill
prohibits ownership of farming or ag-
| rlcultural lands, while permitting
them to own residences and factories,
manufactures and shops
3. Leases of agricultural lands by
such aliens are permitted for a period
of not exceeding three years There
is a question as to whether renewals
would be lawful.
4. Aliens ineligible to citizenship
cannot inherit lands. Upon the death
OF an alien holder his property shall
be sold by the probate court and the
proceeds distributed to his heirs
5. The state specifically reserves its
sovereign right to enact any and all
laws in the future with respect to the
acquisition of real property by aliens
8. Present holdings of ineligible
aliens are not affected except that
they cannot be requested or sold to
other aliens classified among those
not eligible to citizenship.
| Preparations are already on foot by
some business interests to subject it
to a referendum vote, thus delaying
It's operation, if approved, until after
the general election in November,
1914. The governor has announced
that he will sign the bill within a
reasonable time"
Washington, D. c., Pacified.
In official circles at the national
capital the opinion is gaining ground
that the situation created by proposed
anti-alien land owning legislation in
California has been relieved largely
of its grave aspect, and that a satisfac-
tory adjustment has been brought into
sight by latest developments at Sac
ramentO.
Bryan Goes Home.
Secretary of State Bryan concluded
his mission to the governor and legis-
lature OF California Saturday after
noon with a message of farewell and
began his return to Washington, where
he said he thought in this juncture he
could be more useful.
To an open joint session of the two
houses, attended by the governor and
presided over by the lieutenant gov
: ernor, he gave renewed assurances of
the friendly interest and cooperative
!, attitude of the national administration
toward the peculiar problems of Cali
fOrnia.
Only Three Votes Against.
Only three votes were cast against
the measure in the lower house. one
democratic and two republican mem
oers opposing the bill on the final
passage.