The Washington herald., 1917-02-06
SENATE PASSES
ALIEN ACT over
] EXECUTIVE VETO
Vote of 81 to l9 Makes Bill a
Law Without Presidents
Signature.
IGNORE REEDS WARNING
Objections of japanese Government
May Cause Serious Complieate rs,
Senate Is Informed.

Ignoring the State Departments
warning against serious complications
with Japan, the Senate late yesterday
passed the immigration bill, containing
the literacy test, over President Will
sons veto, by vote of "a to Io. The
bill will become a law without the
Presidents signature on May 1.
A desperate eleventh-hour attempt on
behalf Of the administration, to sustain
the Presidents veto, was led by Sena-
tor Reed, of Missouri. He informed
the Senate he had been asked by the
State Department to announce that the
japanese government had filed new
objection to the language of the bill,
and pleaded for postponement of action
during the German crisis.
state Department Anxious.
Il am authorized to say that the State
Department is exceedingly anxious that
nothing ssaII be done which shall cause
the japanese government to feel that we
have In any way impinged upon the un-
Reed sale
Senator Reed explained that the jap
anese government specifically protested
against the section of the bill forbidding
admission of aliens now excluded The
japanese government, the Senator said,
construed this to apply to the Root-Taka-
hira gentlemen's agreement, on which
Japan itself regulates emigration to the
United States.
Il lay it hard on the conscience and
the intelligence OF every Senator here
whether at this particular juncture we
desire to do anything which will tend to
this country and a country with which
we have no serious controversy. the Sem
atOr said. 49,.
Might InJure Country.
4 sha unwilling, at this houf 81 the
Norld's fate, to do anything that viii by
sny possibility injure or weaken the
friendly relations existing between this
country and a country which has given
US no offense. This is not time for seek
irg points of difference. We have enough
ahead Of u.s.
Senator William Alden Smith, of Michi-
gan. also made a plea 10 the Senate to
back up the Presidents veto. Senator
Smith expressed the opinion that the bill
ment.
Senator Lodge, ranking member of the
Foreign Relations Committee, in reply
ing, said that the proposal In the frnmi-
grafton bill did not interfere in any way
with the Root-Takahira gentlemen's pass
port agreement affecting Japanese labor
"No Discrfmination.o
IF the japanese should at any time
abrogate that agreement" declared Sen
ator Lodge, then, under this, people
kept out OF the country now would con-
tinue to be kept out But in agreeing
upon this language, the conferees were
careful not to draw any race distinction
whatever" Senator Borah expressed SIM
liar views
Despite these warnings, the bill passed
with a margin of eight votes over the
necessary tvo-thirds for passage over the
Presidents veto. Passage of the bill
marks the first time Congress has over
ridden veto by President Wilson. The
administration forces in the Senate show
ed a slight gain in strength In the final
vote. nineteen votes being cast against
the measure, as compared to seven
against when It passed the Senate several
months ago.