The Washington herald., 1915-01-29
May RIDE over
WILSON'S VETO
Representative Burnett Conf
dent immigration Bill Will
Be Repassed by Congress.
HOUSE VOTES THURSDAY
Absentees Expected to Return by
Then-President Explains His
Disapproval of Measure.

President Wilson yesterday forwarded
to the House a message vetoing the I'M
migration bill recently agreed to by Con-
gress. He based his disapproval on the
provision imposing an illiteracy test on
incoming aliens. When read to the
House the message vas applauded by the
opponents of the bill. An attempt will
be made to pass the bill over the Preal-
dents veto. A vote will be'taken IN the
House next Thursday.
Representative Burnett, OF Alabama,
one of the authors Of the bill. Is con-
fident he can muster the necessary two
thirds vote to override the Executives s
veto. Doubt on this point is expressed
by other leaders. II the House over
rides the veto, like action will be taken
by the Senate.
Under the rules a vote could have been
demanded in the House on the veto mes
sage yesterday. A postponement for
week was decided upon so that oppor-
tunlty might be given for a full attend
ance of members.
Absentees Expected to Return.
There are now about 100 members
absent from Washington. 1t is be-
lieved practically all of them will
have returned by the time vote on
the veto message is reached next
Thursday.
The Presidents message reads In
part:
TT is with unaffected regret that I
find myself constrained by clear con-
viction to return this bill (H. r. $3.50.
An act TO regulate the immigration Of
aliens to and the residence of aliens
in the United StatesD without my
signature. Not only do feel it TO be
a very serious matter to exercise the
81 in II
involves opposing the single judgment
of the President to the judgment of
a majority of both the houses of
Congress, a step which no man who
realizes his own liability TO error can
take without great hesitation, but also
because this particular bill is in so
many important respects admirable.
well conceived and desirable. Its
enactment into law would undoubtedly
enhance the efficiency and improve the
methods OF handling the important
branch of the public service to which
it relates. But candor and a sense
of duty with regard to the RESPONSE
bility so clearly imposed upon me by
the Constitution in matters of legisla-
ton leave me no choice but to dissent.
I'm two particulars Of vital consequence
this bill embodies a radical departure
from the traditional and long established
policy of this country. a policy in which
our people have conceived the very char
acter of their government to be eX-
pressed the very mission and spirit OF
the nation in respect of its relations to
the peoples of the world outside their
borders. 1t seeks to all but close en-
tirely the gates of asylum which have
always been open TO those who could find
nowhere else the right and opportunity
Of constitutional agitation for what they
conceived to be the natural inalienable
rights Of men; and 1t excludes those to
whom the opportunities OF elementary
education have been denied, without re-
ward to their character, their purposes
or their natural capacity.
Restrictions Undesirable.
. Restrictions like these, adopted earlier
in our history as n nation, would very
materially have altered the course and
cooled the human ardors OF our politics.
The right of political asylum has brought
to this country many a man OF noble
character and elevated purpose who was
marked as an outlaw in his own less
fortunate land, and who has yet become
an ornament TO our citizenship and to our
public councils. The children and the
compatriots of these iIlustrious Ameri-
cans must stand amazed to see the repre-
senta:ives OF their nation now resolved,
In the fuilness Of our national strength
and at the maturity of our great institu-
tions, to risk turning such men back
from our shores without test of quality
or purpose. It Is difficult for me to be-
lieve that the full effect of this feature
of the bill was realized when it was
framed and adopted, and II is impossible
for me to assent to it in the form in
which it is here cast"
Mr. Taft vetoed an immigration bill
containing substantially the same illit-
eracy test toward the close of his admin
istration. The measure was repassed over
his veto by the Senate, but in the House
supporters of the proposed legislation
lacked nine votes Of the necessary two
thirds majority.