New-York tribune., 1920-12-11
Proposed Ban
On Aliens Is
Cut to a Year
House Votes, 81 to 25, to
Amend immigration Bill:
Foreign Governments Ac.
cused of Sending Reds
Plea for Irish Refugees
Measure Opposed as Closing
Country to Oppressed of
Iyrannical Governments

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1o.-Amend-
ment OF the johnson bill to reduce the
two-year prohibition against immigra-
tion to the United States to fourteen
months and charges that foreign gov
ernments are financing the movement
OF RADICALS to the United States"
marked another day Of debate in the
House on immigration legislation.
Adoption by vote of 81 to\25 of the
amendment offered by Representative
Mann, Republican, of Illinois, to reduce
the embargo period was surprise to
advocates of the legislation and con-
stituted the first victory for REPRESENT
atives Siegel, Republican, New York,
and SABBATH, Democrat, Illinois, leaders
OF the opposition. Proponents of the
bill. however. were not dismayed and
said they were confident of favorable
journment tomorrow.
The Mann amendment actually limits
the restriction period to one year, re-
ducing by one-half the period original
ly proposed. AS amended the bill can
not be enforced for two months after
passage and can be applied only four
teen months from the date of passage
Philippines Are Exempted
Another amendment offered by Rep
resentative Mann exempting the
Philippine Islands from application of
the measure was opted by viva voce
vote. The Illinois member, in Offering
the amendment, said the Philippines
might soon obtain their independence
and further legislation by this govern
ment Has not desirable.
The days debate developed a
strengthening of forces opposing the
bill. Representative Mann and other
influential members announced their
opposition to the measure. Reasons
given for opposing it covered wide
fheld OF subjects. including charges of
laXity against the Administration in en-
forcing existing laws, that the bill was
extreme and radical, leading to perma-
nent restriction Of immigration. that it
would deny asylum to Oppressed peo-
Pies" including the Irish, and return
them to "tyrannical governments" for
punishment.
Representative Mann said he was ap
prehensive that the british govern !
~->t.o - hthSiy w duOpC more drastic
methods than it has up to the present
tune" in dealing with the "deplorable
conditions in Ireland" and that under
the terms Of the bill "if an Irishman
seeks to escape from the drastic meas
ures adopted by the British government
and succeeds in getting a vessel which
%lll carry him from his own shores and
land him in America he will be returned
BY. US to the British government to be
tt.ed and convicted of treason and per
haps to be hanged"
Plot to Aid Reds Seen
Representative Knutson, of Mime
sofa. Republican whip of the House,
provided one of the sensations of the
days discussions with the statement
that he was "willing to state on my
reputation as member of the House
that foreign governments are financing
the movement of radicals from several
countrles in Europe. moving them over
here" He added that, while before the
war "immigration from Spain was prac-
tlcally unknown" on a recent visit to
Ellis Island he had found 1000 im1ni-
grants from Spain who had arrived in
one day.
Spain is seething mass of an
arcky,"' nc declared, "and that govern
ment is gathering these anarchists I'D
and dumping them onto u.s.