Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-03
IMMIGRATION BILL
PASSED BY SENATE
Measure Contains Restrictive
Literacy Test for Admis-
sion of Aliens.
FINAL VOTE IS SO TO 7
Overwhelming Majority Record
ed, Despite Indications of Pres
! ident Wilson'S Veto.


migration bill, containing the rcstric-
tive literacy test for Admission Of
aliens. passed the Senate late to-day,
90 to T. The over whelming majority
was recorded despite Indications that
President Wilson would veto the meas
ure. MS did former President Taft, II
II should come to him with the cduca-
cational test included. The vote in
dicated that the bill could be reposscd
by more than the required two-thlrds
majority should the President reject
the measure Senators who voted
against the bill were: Brandegee. Nc
Cumber. OGorman, RansdeN. Reed and
Walsh.
The bill passed the House last Feb
ruary. 241 to 12s
Although the Senate amended the
House bill In several particulars, the
Hteracy test was unaltered. save for
an additional exemption to Belgian sub
Jects. adopted to-day after prolonged
debate. House leaders probably will
ask for conference on Senate amend
ments on Monday. but administration
leaders were confident Senate amend
ments would be accepted and the bill
sent to the President by the middle OF
which House leaders have said prob
ably would be accepted is one to ex-
clude from the United States all per
sons OF the African race or Of negro
blood. Another strengthens the phra se-
ology OF the prohibition OF polygam-
lists.
Closing hours of the debate were de-
voted to an amendment by Senator
Lodge to exempt Belgian farmers from
the literacy test. and from provisions
n tn6 ~ 1T
Ing or Inducing immigration. Already
American organizations are endeavoring
to induce Belgians to settle in this
country.
BELGIAN IMMICRANTS
EXEMPTED FROM TEST
The amendment as finally adopted "A
Ia % reads: That the provisions Of
this act relating to the ii,Iteracy test
or induced or assisted immigration
shall not apply TO agricultural immt-
grants from belgium who come to the
United States during the course or the
present European war. or within one
year after its termination, owing to
circumstances or conditions arising
through the war. II Il is shown 10 the
satisfaction OF the Commissioner Gen
eral OF Immigration that the said Bel
gian immigrants come with the intcn-
tion Of engaging IN agriculture In the
United States and 10 become American
citizens
The litcracy test, as Nnali:. approved,
Is virtually rs IL passed the House.
All amendments 10 enlarge the cxcmp-
tions TO admit persons fleeing from po-
l!tical or racial we'll rs religious.
persecution were rejected. The sec
tion reads in part:
That after four months from the
approval OF this act. in addition to the
aliens who arc by law now excluded
from admission into the United States
the following persons shall also lie
excluded from admission thereto to-
wit:
'All aliens over sixteen years OF age.
physically capable of reading who can
not read the English language or
other lang rhgc or dialect. including
Hebrew or Yiddsh:
Provided. that any admissible alien
or any alien heretofore or hereafter.
legally admitted or any citizen OF the
United states may bring in or send for
his father or grandfather over fifty
five years of age: his wife. his mother,
his grandmother or his unmarried or
widowed daughters If otherwise ad-
nissable whether such relative can
read or not. ana such relative shall
be permitted to enter
That the following classes OF ner-
sons shall DE exempt from the opera
ton of the lteracy test. to-wit: All
aliens who shall prove TO the salts
faction Of the proper immigration OF
ficer or to the Secretary of Labor that
they e'nigrated from the country OF
which they were last permanent resi-
cents for the purpose OF cscapiu. from
religious persecution; all aliens who
have been lawfully admitted 20 the
United states and who nave resided
therein continuously for five years. and
VINO have in accordance with the law |
declared their intention of becoming /
citizens Of the United States. and who
return to the United States within six
an
who shall have been lawfully admitted
10 the United states. ana who later
shall go In transit from one part OF
the United states tc another through |
foreign contiguous territory"
OTHER FEATURES WHICH
CHANGE EXISTING LAW |
Other features of the bin which |
change existing law are designed pri-
niarily to increase safeguards Of health
and morals and to protect labor. The
head tax on immigrants is increased |
from 81 to Sc.
The bill provides rs pecuniary pen
atty II lien on vessels which violate |
the proposed regulations Persons or
corporations would be prohibited from
importing contract labor or soliciting
or inducing the Importation of imm- |
grants, except that skilled labor, if
otherwise admissible may be imported
if labor OF like kind unemployed can
not be found in this country"
The question OF the necessity for i'm |
porting such labor is to he determined !
by the Secretary of Labor,
An amendment submitted by Sena-
tor Cummins, and accepted, provides
that the Departments of Labor and
Commerce closely observe usual condi-
Itions and notify Congress whenever
jim their oIInion Expected Immigration
would materially increase the number
OF unemployed In the country or reduce
the wage standard. The bill outlines n |
scheme or supervision of immigrant
SLIPS. and also provides for interior i'm
migrant stations to distribute aliens
a provision Of the House bill directing
that american medical inspectors
should be placed on immigrant shfps
in foreign ports was stricken out, after
Sprotests from foreign governments