Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-04-13
IMMIGRATION
BILL PASSED
BY THE HOUSE
Japanese Exclusion Clause
Passed Over Protest Of
Japanese Government;
May Cause Friction
tRy The Associated Press.l


I japanese exclusion provision against
which the japanese government has pro-
tested vigorously. the Johnson immi-
grafton bill was passed by the house
today. 322 TO Il.
No effort was made TO eliminate the
japanese section which provoked only a
brief and perfunctory discussion. There
was nothing 20 indicate that any Of tho
opposition votes were directed at the
Asiatic policy contained in the bill but
rather against the provision fixing the
1890 census a. the basis of the two per
cent quota. which was adopted.
While the senate was getting back to
its consideration Of the immigration
que stion III u night session. republican
leaders issued a call for q party con-
ference next Monday at which an effort
will BE- made 70 agree upon policy both
as to Japanese exclusion and the quota
basis.
The existing law, which expires on
next June 80. fixed the quota at three
per cent on the 1910 census and had no
provision relating 10 japanese immigra-
tion which for years has been regulated
by the "gentlemen's agreement" with
Japan. Secretary Hughes has urged that
the American government continue to
recognize this agreement and that the
Japanese be placed on the same quota
basis AZ the nationals Of other coun-
tries.
Repres ssntative Johnson OF Washing
ton. chairman Of the house immigration
committee. announced today that when
II. z L
10 reconcile their differences on immi-
grafton legislation. the managers on the
part OF the house will insist TO the end
on the retention Of the japanese exclu-
sion provision.
Ambassador Hanihara's letter 10 Sec
retary Hughes. which was transmitted
yesterday 70 congress, protesting against
any exclusion feature. was not mention
ga in house debate on the bill. When this
proposal j. reached in the senate, how
ever. Senator Johnson, republican, Cali
fOrnia, and other senators from the Pa
cific coast plan to take formal cogniz-
ance ~ the letter and redouble their r.
forts 10 have an exclusion feature writ
ten into the law.
There was no formal vote in the
house on the exclusion feature. as the
failere Of any member to offer an
amendment resulted in automatic ap-
rroval while the bill was being read
tor amendment. Only one address re-
garding this I. ature was delivered. that
beng by Representative Burton. Of
Ohio. republican member Of the for
eign affairs committee. lie discussed the
provision for five minutes. emphasizing
what h. regarded as the inadvisability
o. superceding the "gentlemen's agree
ment" by legislative enactment.
Chairman Johnson. who had planned
To deliver an address to the house urg-
ing the necessity for such enactment,
abandoned this program when il became
apparent that no serious opposition
would develop.
Discussing the fleet of the opera
tion of the proposed immigration legis-
lation. Mr. Johnson said informally
that should American consular officers
abroad be unprepared in July to car
- out their examination OF prospective
immigrants in the country of origin, the
new law would automatically suspend
all immigration from Europe until the
machinery for the overseas examination
could begin to function.
While the senate measure differs
from the house bill in several particu-
lars. also has provision for overseas
examination and there appears little
prospect that the two houses will be in
disagreement on this feature of the
legislation. The chief difference be-
tween 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 substitute
the date in the house bill and also the
1920 census with the quotas based on
origin of nationalities.
The democratic members of the i'm
migration c5mmittee-Raker of Cali
fornia and Box o. Texas-assisted Mr..
Johnson in putting the bill through
without material amendment.
The senate at its night session took
no action on provisions Of the immigra-
tion bill and recessed until noon Mon
day when the measure will again be
called up.