Evening star., 1916-08-21
TAKES Up I
IMMIGRATION BILL
Passage Expected, and Hope
That President will Not Veto
for Literacy Test.

BY a vote of 81 to ~ the Senate to-
day voted to take up the immigration
bill, which the democratic caucus had
determined to postpone until next ses-
sion.
The motion to take up the bill was
made by Senator Smith OF South Caro-
lima chairman Of the immigration COM
mittee. Nine democratic senators voted
with republicans for the motion. They
were Senators Ashurst, Beckham, Gull
berson, Hardwick. Lane, Myers, Over
man, Smith of South Carolina and Var
daman.
Passage of the bill seemed assured by
today's action. 1t was predicted debate
would be brief.
Hope for Presidents Approval.
President Wilson vetoed an immigra-
ton bill last year because of the
literacy test. Some democratic senators
now believe the President will not veto
the present bill. although it retains the
literacy test to which he then objected.
Other features of the bill, however
have been somewhat modified
Senators who think the President
might sign the bill point to his veto
message of January 2S, 1918, in which
the President said:
III the people OF the country have
made UP their minds to limit the num-
ber OF immigrants by arbitrary tests.
and so reverse the policy Of all the
generations of Americans that have
gone before them. it is their right to do
SO. 1 am their servant and have no
license to stand in their way.
But do not believe they have.
Il have no pride of opinion in this
question. / am not foolish enough to
profess to know the wishes and ideals
of America better than the body Of her
chosen representatives, know them. L
only want instruction direct from those
whose fortunes. with ours. and all
mems. are involved"
Opening for Reversal.
Senators in favor of immediate ac-
tion on the bill agree that. in these
words. the President left an opening
for reversal of his former action. They
will endeavor to convince him that the
people Of the country now do want the
literacy test as a bar against whole
sale immigration.
Senator Smiths motion had been ex-
pected, but democratic leaders were not
looking for it so soon. Many democratic
senator's were absent and could not be
be found in time to register their votes
against the motion.
Many senators who voted against it
explained later that they were for 1t
and voted against the Smith motion BE-
cause they did not think this an oppor
tune time to pass the measure.
Should President Wilson veto the bill
an effort to pass 1t over his veto by
two-thirds majority probably would not
be made. There is no quorum Of the
House present. and one could not be
secured. leaders say. without great DIFF
ficulty.
Executive Chamber Discussion.
When debate on the exclusion pro-
vision of the bill relating to Asiatics
was begun. Senator O'Gorman suggest
ed that the Senate should discuss the
matter behind closed doors and moved
that the Senate go into executive ses-
sion. The Vice President Immediately
ordered the galleries cleared. Considera-
ton of the features of the bill which
relate particularly to Japan proceeded
in secret.
How much consideration of this bill
will delay the adjournment of Congress
the leaders were unable to say. The
democratic senators. wishing to spare
the President the embarrassment OF hav-
ing to veto this bill just before an cleo
tion had planned to let the bill go over
until next session.
The immigration bill has already
passed the House by a large majority,
and if 1T comes to a vote VIII pass the
Senate by q large majority.
President Taft has also vetoed the Dill
because of the literacy test.