The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-13
JAPAN DEFIED
AS HOUSE VOTES
EXCLUSION BILL
Ambassadors Objection
Given No Consideration
In 1922 To II Vote
BURTON PLEADS
FOR HUGHES PACT
Would Retain Gentle
mems Agreement De-
sired By Hanihara

WASHINGTON, April 12.-Carry-
ing a Japanese exclusion provision,
against which the Japanese government
has protested vigorously, the johnson
immigration bill was passed today by
the House, 800 to II.
No effort was made to eliminate the
japanese section, which provoked only
brief and perfunctory discussion. There
was nothing to indicate that any of the
opposition votes were directed at the
Asiatic policy contained in the bill,
but rather against the provision fixing
1890 census as the basis of the two
per cent quota, which was adopted.
Call Party Caucus
While the Senate was getting back
to its consideration of the immigration
question Mt a night session, republican
leaders issued a call for a party con-
ference for next Monday, at which an
effort will be made. to agree upon a
policy both as to Japanese exclusion
and the census quota basis.
The existing law, which expires on
next June 30, fixes the quota at three
per cent on the 1910 census and had
no provision relating to japanese immi-
grafton, which for years has been regu-
lated by the .'gentlemen's s. agreement
with Japan. Secretary Hughes has
urged that the American government
continue to recognize this agreement
and the Japanese placed on the same
quota basis as the nationals of other
countries.
To Insist On Exclusion
Representative johnson of Washing
ton, chairman of the House immigra-
ton committee, announced today that
when the time comes for the House and
Senate to reconcile their differences on
immigration legislation, the managers
on the part of the House will insist to
the end on the retention of the Japa-
nese exclusion provision.
Ambassador Haniharas letter to
Secretary Hughes, which was trans
mitted yesterday to Congress, protest
ing against any exclusion feature, was
not mentioned in House debate on the
bill. When this proposal is reached
in the Senate, however, Senator John
son. republican, California, and other
senators from the Pacific coast, plan
to take formal cognizance of the letter
and redouble their efforts to have an
exclusion feature written into the law.
There was no formal vote in the
House on the exclusion of features as
the failure of any member to offer an
amendment resulted in automatic ap-
proval while the bill was being read
for amendment.
Only one address regarding this fea-
ture was delivered, that being by Rep
resentative Burton of Ohio, republican
member of the foreign relations COM
mittee. He discussed the provision for
five minutes, emphasizing what he re-
garded as the individuality of super
ceding the 'gentleman's agreement" by
legislative enactment.
Chairman johnson, who had planned
to deliver an address to the House,
urging the necessity for such enactment
abandoned this program when it became
apparent that no serious opposition
would develop.
Discussing the effect of the opera
ton of the proposed immigration legis-
lation, Mr.. johnson said informally
that should American consular officers
abroad be unprepared on July l to
carry out their instruction of prospec-
tive immigrants in the country of emil
grafton the new law would autOmatical-
ly suspend all immigration from Europe
until the machinery could begin to
function.
While the Senate measure differs
from the House bill in several particu-
lars, it also has the provision for over
seas examinations. The chief difference
between the House and the Senate bills
is in the census basis for the quotas,
the Senate measure proposing the 1910
census. There have been moves to sub
stitute the date in the House bill and
also the 1920 census with the quotas
based on origin of nationalities.'
The Senate at its night session took
no action on provisions of the immi-
grafton bill and recessed until noon
Monday.