The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-05
BILL PRESCR|BES
L|TERACY TEST
FOR IMMIGRANTS
Measure Passes House
by Vote of 241 to
1926.
OPPONENTS WAGE
FUTILE BA It'll T.
Adopted at End of Day of Vigor-
Gus Debate, Which at Times
Threatens to Cause Serious
Trouble-Terms Not APP
proved by Presi-
dent Wilson.

Washington. February 4.-Thc Bur
nett immigration bill, prescribing n
iiteracy test for applicants to adtiis-
sion to the United States, was passed
by the House this afternoon by vote
of 2i1 to l26. All proposed amend
ments relating TO the exclusion of
Asiatic immigrants previously had been
eliminated.
AS the bill passed it provides that
every immigrant admitted to the
United States must be able to read the
EnglisfA language or some other Ian
guage or dialect including Hebrew or
fiddish." 1t prescribed the method Of
testing immigrants. providing that each
applicant for admission must read a
slip on which Is printed between thirty
and forty words.
In its present form, this measure
passed tho House and the Senate I'm
the last Congress, but was vetoed by
President Taft. A similar bill was
vetoed during President Clcvcland's
second administration. The support
crs of tho bill are confident that il
again will pass the Senate. although
President Wilson has let II be known
that no does not approve the literacy
test.
Opponents of the literacy test fought
to the last, but on II last effort TO
eliminate the test from the bill, they
were defeated 40 to 239 The final
orous debate. which at times threw
the House into confusion, and on sew
eral occasions threatened to cause
serious trouble
Hurries Debate Along.
Representative Burnett, of Alabama,
In charge of the BILL tried to hurry
the debate along, and frequently moved
10 proceed and shut OFF the discussion
On one occasion Representative Mana
han, OF Minnesota, commented upon
what he called "the ~unfairness with
which this bill has been driven
through" and "the unfair statements
OF the chairman. Mr. Burnett, In view
or his fear and cowardice, which he
| has shown in not daring to answer OBJ
jections"
With bound Representative Burnett
was on his feet.
That's n lie, Mr.. Chairman. and the
gentleman knows It," he shouted.
Amid tumult Of demands for recos-
milton. points OF order. and general
outburst OF disorder, Representative
Hay, In the chair finally called Rep
resentative Mannhan to order An
other outburst followed. in the course
of which Representative Manahan
Withdrew the word "cowardice"
Minority Leader Mann. In the role Of
peacemaker. finally quieting things
down. brought about 'an exchange OF
apologies
AT another point In the debate tho
chairman and Representative Mann
had a heated exchange, the latter de
ciaring that the chair is disrcspectful
to the House."
Material amendments written by the
House into tho original bill penalize
railroads In this country and American
steamship lines for encouraging or So
licittng immigration. and provide fines
or imprisonment for those who encour-
age and assist in the admission of
aliens who preach the doctrine of de-
struction Of property to right alleged
wrongs
Infect Suffrage Problem.
House leaders prevented to-day re-
turn to the feared Japanese exclusion
question. but the Republicans injected
the female suffrage problem into the
discussion. Representative Manahan,
OF Minnesota. opposed provision OF
the bill requiring deportation of for
eiGners who begin within five years
after landing to preach destruction OF
property, bomb-thrOwinE, egg throw
ing and other forms of acute suffra-
Gettism. He held II n shame to deport
women who are lighting for their
rights denied them by action OF the
Democratic caucus last night.
After refusing TO recognize suf-
frage." said Republican Leader Mann
the Democrats now propose to de- |
port English women who are fighting
for their rights After your caucus
you are bold. indeed
Representative Lenrost, Republican.
Wisconsin, said: Until last night tho !
suffrage cause In the United States and |
England were on entirely different |
planes. The Democratic caucus has |
put the suffragettes OF the United |
States in tho same class with the suf- |
fragettes OF England. The Democrats |
have denied the women and men who |
believe in suffrage the opportunity to |
be heard. That is n right the women |
of England are lighting to secure"
Representative Slayton, Texas. de- |
clared there seemed to be disposi- |
tion to fail to diffcrentiatc between |
revolutionary movements and individ- |
ual crimes OF anarchy and arson.
Following passage OF the bill there |
was cheering on the House floor and |
applause In the galleries which Speak |
er Clark was unable to check for sew
eral minutes.