Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-02-04
IMMIGRATION LAW WITH LITkR-
AcY CLAUSE is SURE TO BE
PASSED BY CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT WILL SIGN IT
southerners Generally and Organized
Labor Favor the Measure and the
House Committee Recon-
mends Its Enactment.
BY GEORGE CLINTON


enter the United States for the pur-
pose Of becoming a citizen unless he
Is able TO read. Congress soon will
pass and the president will sign an
immigration restriction bill which will
shut out illiterate foreigners.
The reason for the positive. state
ncot mat congress will pass and the
president will sign an immigration re-
striction bill containing the illiteracy
test clause Is that IT is known definite
y that a great majority OF the mem
oers or congress are in favor OF the
measure and that Mr.. Wilson. judg-
ing by what he has said in the past
on the same subject. also favors the
enactment OF such legislation.
Pressure is being brought to bear
TO have the immigration bill taken up
early in February and pressed to n
passage. This restriction bill is al
most Identical with the one which
passed the house and senate last year
and which President Taft vetoed
Arrangements are being made for
consideration of the measure. A rule
is TO be asked limiting debate to seven
hours on each side. This means that
the IA hours will be given over large
~ to the discussion of the literacy
clause of the bill which provides that
no alien over sixteen years of age
who Is unable to read shall be grant
ed admission TO this country.
Representative Burnett Of Alabama,
chairman Of the committee on immi-
grafton and naturalization. has submit
ted on behalf of the majority of his
committee a report favorable to the
passage OF the bill virtually as il
stands. There are three minority re-
ports, one signed by Representatives
SABBATH OF Illinois and Goldfogle of
New York, one by Representative
Moore OF Pennsylvania, and one by
representative Johnson of Washing.
ton. The objections to the bill entered
by the minority members are based
on various considerations.
Favored by Southerners.
There are some curious things un-
DERIVING this proposed immigration re-
stricting measure. There is a feeling
In Washington that many OF the north
ern representatives in congress wish
the bill to pass and yet feel they must
vote against it. 1t is said that In its
initiative 1t is a southern proposition.
Members of the house from the south
en states have no reason TO fear that
they will endanger their seats by vot-
ing against IT. The constituents of
virtually all the southerners are OF
Old American stock and seemingly IL
IS taken for granted that Americans
of this stock will look with equanim-
ity on the exclusion OF illiterate
aliens
This bill, or one very much like f.
1t will be remembered was passed
by the senate and house last year and
vetoed by Mr. Taft The senate
passed it over the veto by more than
two-thirds vote. but the house up
held Mr.. Taft's action by a narrow
margin
Pernicious Lobby Routed
President Wilson's word OF wrath
last summer that pernicious lobby
ing was going on in congress not
only had It's effect in disclosing
the names Of the lobbyists. but
II has brought about an entirely new
condition OF affairs In this city. There
are no lobbyists in Washington dur
ing the discussion OF the antitrust
bills. They have been barred by hints
which have the force OF an executive
order.
Washington fully expects that repre-
sentatives Of the great business inter
ests OF the country Will come here TO
make themselves heard before the iu-
dietary and Interstate commerce com
mittees which were given charge of
the antitrust bills. Some Of the bust
ness men already are here. but there
arc none OF the marks OF the old-time
lobbyists about them or about the law
yers whom they have brought with
them or sent ahead Of them TO plead
against some Of the provisions OF the
measures.
Old Washington residents and the
veteran members OF congress proba-
bly, VIII be unable 20 recognize any
individuals in the descending hosts.
Tie old-timers. 81 they are % be found
must be searched for with a long-dis-
lance telescope The recent lobby IN
curry. although its results In some
respects we're not what they might
have been. has been sufficient 10 shat
ter the iron nerves of some OF the
lobbyists of other days II IS believed
IA Washington that the antitrust
hearings Will b. free from the scandal
OF the old familiar methods OF exertIng
undue influence on Individual commit
tee members
Business Men Welcome.
Il is plain from what has been said
in the vicinity Ct the White House
that President Wilson desires that rep
resentatves Of the commercial inter
ests OF tire country shall come q,
Washington and present to TIE com,
mitteemeu sbeir side Of any ease in.