The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-05-01
WOULD WIPE OUT
ALL JAP ANESE
COLONIES
Webb Act Severest Of All Anti
Alien Land Bills
NO CONCESSION TO BRYAN
Leaders in California Legislature
Have Taken No Backward Step
from Original Position.

Sacramento, Cal, May IAN open
right of way for final action in the
Senate at Sacramento this morning
On the Webb anti-alien land act was
prepared yesterday by the floor lead
ers in the upper House and before to
night concrete expression OF the
Legislatures attitude toward Secre
tary of State Bryan's diplomatic visit
will be at hand in the shape of vote
on the most drastic land-holding act
vet proposed. Secretary Bryan spent
the day in San Francisco, not return
ing until late last night. 1t was not
known whether he had received fur
ther instructions from President VIII
son regarding his proposition to the
Legislature.
There was wide discussion OF the
new bill yesterday, although but lit
tie criticism was forthcoming from
the standpoint of California. In COM
parison with various drafts that pre-
ceded it, the Webb act is said to be
more drastic and effective in reaching
the Japanese farmers of the state
than any other proposed measure and
at the same time, least Objectionable
of all from an international point of
view.
Senator Thompson declared last
night that the bill provided for "the
immediate and direct solution of the
Japanese problem" and to this ex-
tent it is the most rigid and uncom-
promising measure that has been sug-
gested..
1T is altogether probable that we
would have reached this form of bill
in any case" said Senator Thompson
land it cannot fairly be said that the
draft prepared by Attorney General
Webb reflects any of the sentiments
of Mr.. Bryan except his desire that
we do not offend anyone and that of
course has been our guiding principle
from the beginning"
A close study OF the Webb bill
shows the full extent of the restric-
tons placed upon aliens who are not
permitted to become citizens. al
though the limitations are precisely
those imposed in the existing treat
les between the United States and
Japan, China and other nations whose
subjects are eligible. In the case of
the Japanese they are prohibited en-
tirely from acquiring or holding land
for farming or agricultural purposes,
and it is declared the passage of the
act will put an end, not only to the
growth of Japanese farming colonies,
but eventually to the colonies them.
selves. This purpose of the act is eff
fected in two ways
/. On the death 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 citi
zen. The proceeds from the sale OF
such land are distributed to the heirs
by the court.
2. No leases whatsoever are per.
mitted Originally it was planned to
permit leases covering a maximum
period of three to five years, but tn,
Webb act denies this opportunity fol-
colonization by aliens and provides
that any elase of agricultural lands is
subject to escheat to the state on the
day IL is begun. To make this more
suit is begun to escheat such leases
effective. the bill provides that wher