The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-02-25
Wilson AGAINST llTERACY TEST
In IMMIGRATION BILL
Smith REPORTS MEASURE
South Carolinian VIII Present House
Bill to the Senate Practically Un-
changed-Wilson Doesn't Consider
Literacy Proper Test of Charac.
ter, and Will Veto the Bill.

President Wilson will veto the Bur-
nett immigration bill If it comes to
him for signature with the so-called
literacy test contained in it. This
became known Monday night from an
authoritative quarter, after Chairman
Smith Of the Senate immigration COM
mittee had announced that the bill
virtually as it passed the House, in
cluding the literacy test, would be
favorably reported to the Senate soon.
Prospects are that the bill will
pass the Senate as reported from the
committee, but the measure never
will become law, according to close
friends Of the president. The presi-
dent does not consider literacy a test
of character and believes some other
means should be devised to prevent
undesirable aliens from entering the
United States. He told callers that
he had given his view to the Senate
committee and had left it to them to
make it public or not, as they choose.
That the lieracy test for aliens
would be retained became apparent
Monday when Senator E. D. Smith,
chairman Of the immigration commit
tee, announced the determination Of
the committee to report to the Sen
ate the Burnett bill as it passed the
House, with some notifications, by
the last Of this or the first Of next
week. He made known the decision
Of the committee not to eliminate
from the measure the literacy test
which would bar from entry all aliens
over 16 years Of age who can not
read the English language or some
other language or dialect including
Hebrew or Yiddish. Asiatic exclu-
sion, much agitated in the House,
viii lnot be considered by the COM
mittee.
The decision to include the liter
acy test in the Senate draft Of the
bill was reached after Senator Smith
had conferred with President Wilson
several times on the immigration sub
ject. Though Senator Smith never
has disclosed the presidents attitude
with reference to the literacy test,
some members Of the committee have
intimated that President Wilson was
not in favor Of this form Of restric-
ticn. The president told inquirers
that he did not care to discuss the
matter while 1t was pending before
the committee.
Some amendments to the bill will
be made, one Of them to relate par
ticularly to the medical inspection
service. The committee wishes to
increase the size and efficiency OF this
service. To do this, a larger appro-
priation will be necessary, and such
will be urged in separate bill. The
committee is Of the opinion that by
increasing the efficiency OF the IN
spection forces all along the borders
of the United States restrictive meas
ures applying abroad will not be so
necessary. In that way, it is believed
this country is less likely to give OF
Tense to other nations, at the same
time safeguarding this country
against undesrables.
The literacy test twice has proved
the stumbling block Of Immigration
legislation, once in President Taft's
administration and prior to that, dur
ing the incumbency Of President
Cleveland. President Taft vetoed a
bill on account Of literacy test pro-
vision, and President Cleveland let a
prior measure OF the same character
die at the end OF the administration
by falling to sign the bill, form OF
executive dealing known as the
pocket Veto.