The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-08-20

GU Will SuSH liiS ntIlldie VI dp-
prehension, they will wonder
whether we have common sense or
not"
Senator Dillingham's bill provid-
ing for immigration to relieve the
emergency caused by an acute
shortage of labor in Hawaii is
likely to be made the subject of a
hearing by the Senate Committee
on immigration this week, if mem
bers of the Committee can man
age to find time TO consider this
measure now in the closing days
before the prospective Senatorial
recess. This bill provides that for
Il period of five years after its
passage whenever the President
shall declare by proclamation that
there is q serious shortage of labor
in the island the Secretary Of
Labor shall be empowered TO ad-
nit for limited periods to the Ter
iitory OF Hawaii such alien other
wise inadmissible as he may deem
necessary TO meet the existing
emergency, provided that such adj
mission shall not operate TO in
crease the number of persons Of
any one alien nationality so that
their total numbers at any one
time shall excess twenty per cent.
of the total population of the Ter
ritory.
The House Committee on In
migration and Naturalization has
been engaged in taking consider
able testimony on the subject Of
labor problems in Hawaii, and it
has been brought out that the pros
pective control Of the labor situa-
ton there by the Japanese was one
of the reasons for measures of this
nature in Congress, the hope being
ultimately to provide for the in
PRODUCTION of sufficient Chinese ag-
ricultural labor to save the situa-
ton. Senator Dillingham's bill diff
fers in minor details from the
House bill on this subject.
1t is interesting in this connec-
ton to note that the American Le-
gion, at its latest national conven~
ton, in Minneapolis, took cogni-
zance of the situation, and adopt
ed the following resolution: "That
Congress be urged to ma e an i'm
partial investigation of the labor
needs of Hawaii with the view to
possible notifications of policy
which shall result in a larger pop
ulation of distinctly American or
igin and a Investigation of alien
population with a view to military,
social, and economic safety"
A striking coincidence featured
the hearing conducted this week by
the Senate Committee on Immigra-
ton in respect to the prominence
therein of members of the Dilling-
ham family.
Seated at the head of the inn
mense round table in the commit
tee room as presiding officer in the
absence of the committees chair
man, Senator Dillingham;, author
of the bill before the meeting, a
resolution providing for immigra-
ton to relieve an emergency caus-
ed by an acute shortage of labor
in the Territory of Hawaii, pre-
sentted to his fellow Senator'S a
cousin, Major Walter +. Dilling-
ham, of Hawaii, who, from his
place at the other end of the big
board, proceeded to outline the
situation as it obtains in the is
land.
Major Dillingham;, although born
in Hawaii, is of New England an
costly, and recently obtained pos
session by purchase of the ances-
trail home Of the Dillingham; fam
lily, on Cape Cod. He has grown
up with the big interests in the
island and as an engineer had
built some of the noteworthy ex-
amples Of engineering construction
there. He says that his sole pur%|
pose in the campaign which he ana
his confreres are now waging be-
fore Congress is to preserve Haw-
ali for Americans.
The Major is at the head OF the
Hawaii Emergency Labor Commits
sion appointed by the Governor
there to Urge upon the United
States government the necessity
for immediate action calculated to
relieve the critical situation in the
island. The other members OF the
commission are Senator Charles F.
Chillingsworth, and Mr.. Albert
Horner. They have been in Wash
ington since May and have np-'
peared frequently before the
House Committee on immigration
and Naturalization in support of
their claim. They propose to re-
main in the District as long as
their services can be Of assistance
to the national legislators.
The prominence of the Senior
Senator from Vermont in matters
of legislation and craftsmanship is
more in evidence than ever these
days when the subject Of tariff
revision is uppermost in the upper
Dfancn OF congress. ne vermont
Scion fastened back from a short
visit back home to attend the Sen
ate Finance Committees hearings,
and has been actively interested
in this work ever since his return.
He is by no means passive listen
er to the testimony of the experts
and others, and not infrequently
some pertinent comment
or apt inquiry that shows how
readily he graspS the Fundamental
points of the discussion. Rccogni-
ton of a noteworthy sort has just
been accorded that lively interest
on Senator Dillingham's part by
him to membership on
the special Joint Subcommittee
named TO settle the veXatiouS and