The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-05
Literacy Test Is Included in
Measure, But Asiatics
Not Excluded
BURNETT APPLIES THE
SHORT AND UGLYWORD
He and Manahan Have Another Clash.
Alabamian Now in Sight of the
Goal for Which He Has
Struggled for Years

Washington, February 4-tspecial.l
The Burnett immigration bill pre-
scribing a literacy test for appli-
cants to admission to the United
States. was passed by the House this aft
ernoon by 241 to PIC. All proposed amend
ments relating to the exclusion of Asiatic
immigrants previously had been eliml-
mated.
As the bill passed it provides that every
immigrant admitted to the United States
must be able to read "the English Ian
including Hebrew or Yiddsh.r 1t pre-
scribes the method of testing immigrants,
providing that each applicant for admis-
sion must read a slip ON which is printed
between 50 and 40 words.
Supporters of Bill Confident
IN its present form this measure passed
the House, and the Senate in the last
Congress, but was vetoed by President
Taft. A similar bill was vetoed during
President cleveland's second administra-
ton. The supporters of the bill are con-
fident that it will again pass the Senate,
although President Wilson has let it be
known that he does not approve the lit
eracy test.
Opponents of the literacy test fought
strenuousy to the last but on last ef-
fort to eliminate the test from the bill
they We're defeated-140 to 239. The final
Upt &c . ba of win
orous debate, which at times threw the
House into confusion, and on several oc-
easions threatened to cause serious
trouble
Representative Burnett of Alabama, in
charge of the bill, tried to hurry the de-
bate along, and frequently moved to pro-
eeed and shut off the discussion. On one
occasion Representative Manahan 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 of his fear and coward
ice which he has shown in not daring to
answer objections"
Short and Ugly Word
With a bound Representative Burnett
was on his feet.
That's a lie. Mr.. Chairman, and the
gentleman knows it, he shouted
Amid tumult of demands for recogni-
ton, points of order and a general out
burst of disorder, Representative Hay. in
the chair, finally called Representative
Nanahan to order. Another outburst fol-
lowed, in the course of which Represen-
tative Manahan withdrew the word
.'eowardice." Minority Leader Mann. in
the role of peacemaker, finally quieting
things down, brought about exchange
of apologies.
At another point in the debate the chair
man and Representative Mann had a
heated exchange, the latter declaring that
the chair is disrespectful to the House.
After one of the gamest fights that Cons
gress and the country has witnessed in
years, Representative Burnett, after five
attempts, now sees the goal for which
ne has been struggling in sight. His i'm
migration bill is to become law-that is,
it is reasonably certain that it will-before
another month has passed.
There is now and has been all the time
very determined and active opposition to
the Burnett immigration bill Neverthe-
less, Representative Burnett declares that
the bill is favored by business men, farm
ers, labor unions and all classes all over
the United States When the debate was
at its warmest on the measure in the
House 1t was suggested 20 Mr.. Burnett
that "a President of the United States
had vetoed his bill because of the lit
eracy test" Yes retorted the member
from the Seventh. land that President
carried two measely little states in the
following election
The literacy test for immigrants is the
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