The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-01-07
PASSLITERACYTEST
Senate Emphatic in Movement to
Clarity immigration.
Departments Required to Notify
CoH0Tess When immigration
Depresses Wages.

Washington, d. C--The immigra-
tion bill, containing the restrictive lit
eracy test for admission Of aliens
which has been the obstacle in immi-
grafton reform Legislation for the
greater part of two national admins
trations, passed the senate Saturday
by vote Of so to z. The overwhelm-
ing majority was recorded despite the
fact that President Wilson had indica-
ted he would veto the measure, as did
President Taft, if it should come to
him with the educational test includ-
ed.
The vote in the senate indicated that
the bill could be repassed by more
than the required two-thirds majority
should the President reject the meas
ure.
The bill passed the house on Febru-
airy last by vote of 241 to 126.
Although the senate amended the
house bill in several particulars, the
literacy test was unaltered, save for
an additional exemption to Belgian
subjects which was adopted after pro-
longed debate
| House leaders probably will ask for
conference on senate amendments
but administration leaders were conf
dent senate amendments would be ac-
cepted and the bill sent to the Presi.
dent by the middle of the week
Among senate amendents which
house leaders have said probably would
be accepted is one to exclude from the
United States all persons of the Afri
can race or of negro blood. Another
strengthens the phraseology of the
prohibition of polygamists.
Closing hours of the debate were de
voted to an amendment by Senator
Lodge to exempt Belgian farmers from
the literacy test and from the provis
ions which prohibit Americans from
soliciting or inducing immigration
Already several American organiza
tions are endeavoring to induce Bel
gian refugees to settle in this country
The amendment, as finally adopte'
by vote of "a to %, follows:
THAT the provisions of this &C
relating to the illiteracy test or in
duced or assisted immigration shall
not apply to agricultural immigrant
from Belgium who come to the Unite
States during the course of the presen
European war, or within one yea
after its termination, owing to cir
cumstances or conditions arisin
through the war, if it is shown to tn
J satisfaction of the commissioner gen
eral of immigration that the said Be
gian immigrants come with the inter
tion of engaging in agriculture in tn
United States and to become America
, citizens"
Following is synopsis of the in
migration bill passed by the senate:
In general persons over 16 shall
[ required to be able to read English c
some language or dialect, includin
Yiddish.
Exception to literacy test is made G
Belgian farmers who come to the I'm
, ted States within one year after tn
,, end of the present European war.
Persons fleeing from religious pc
I secution also excepted
Admissible aliens may send fl
: father or grandfather over 55, or ft
wife, mother, grandmother or unma
ried or widowed daughter, though sue
relative may be illiterate.
!, Polygamists excluded
! Persons of African race or negl
: blood excluded Excluded list inten'
ed to take in Migrants, the tuberculol
: and persons who teach or advocate u
lawful destruction of property
Departments of Labor and Con
merce to report to congress whenev'
i expected immigration threatens to i
crease number of unemployed or T
duce wage standard