Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-05
HOUSE SUSTA|NS
PRESIDENT VETO
Attempt to Pass immigration Bill
With Literacy Test Defeated,
261 to 1856.
LACKS NEEDED TWO-THIRDS
Just Two Years Ago Similar Ac-
ton Was Taken Over Oppo-
sition by Taft.
LACKS NEEDED TWO-THlRDs

WASHINGTON. February t.--Thc at
tempt to pass the immigration bill
with its literacy test provision over
the veto of the President failed in the
House late to-day. The vote was 26l
in favor Of overriding the veto and
1876 against 1t. Two members voted
present. and with this attendance os6
ayes would have been necessary to
give the necessary two thirds
Just two years ago to day the House
failed to repass the immigration bill
over the veto of President Taft. who
also opposed the literacy test
Debate on the motion to override
President Wilson's veto began when the
House met under an agreement for five
hours and twenty minutes talk Rep
resentatives Burnett and Gardner led
the forces in favor OF the measure. and
Representatives Moore and SABBATH
headed the opponents.
Representative Adair. Democrat
ooened the argument for repassing the
bill. Votes on the literacy test In Con-
Ercss during the last decade. he said
had established that public opinion ap-
proved it,
UNDERWOOD VIGOROUSLY
DISSENTS FROM POSITION
Majority Leader Underwood vigor-
ously dissented from the Presidents
given popular approval because 1t
never had been placed before the peo-
pie as n national issue. For twenty
years" he said. 81 have supported this
legislation. Through my record on
this question. my constituency knows
my position. and 1T has indicated it's
approval by returning me to Congress-
Nearly two-thirds OF the members OF
this House voted for this legislation
four years ago. The constituencies OF
majority OF this House knew the
position taken on this question by their
Representatives. After four years. this
issue again comes up. and more than
two-thirds of the Representatives OF
those constituencies again favor this
Legislation.
1T is idle to say that II is necessary
that there be pronounccment of Il
great party I'm convention assembled
in order to voice the sentiments of the
American people.
The reason ! favor this legislation
is the very reason given by the Presi-
dent for vetoing the bill He says that
tho literacy test is restrictive and not
selecti"e. OF course. all OF us would
favor selective restriction IL possible"
MOORE URGES HOUSE
TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT
Representative Moore. of Pennsyl-
vania. Republican. urged the House TO
support the President He declared
immigration had had no bad effects on
wages and working conditions In this
country. and asserted that the restric-
tions imposed in the bill were con-
trary to the fundamental principles
upon which the forcfathers based this
republic"
Chairman Burnett, of the ImmiEra-'
ton Committee, and author OF the bill.
declared the fight for restrictive immi-
grafton Legislation would continue.
we lost by very narrow margin"
he said land n swing of few votes
would have passed the bill. The fight
Will be made again in the next Con-
gress."
The vetoed bill passed the House Just
year ago to-day by vote of o3s to
40. To-day's vote showed a gain of
twenty-five votes for 1t. and loss of
four votes from the opposition
strength.
The 261 votes for passing the bill
over the veto were cast as follows:
Democrats. 166; Republicans rs; Pro-
gressives and progressive Republicans.
l6: independent. /.
Against the bill the vote was: Dem
,ocrats. 1ol; "nsursent" Democrat, /:
Republicans. 80; Progressive and pro-
Gressive Republican, /.
Presidents Taft and Cleveland vetoed
similar measures. and attempts TO
override them failed