Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1898 — LODGE'S BILL PASSED. [ARTICLE]

LODGE'S BILL PASSED.

Great Interest Taken in the liniulgrution Measure. The features of Monday’s proceedings in the United State's Senate were the speech delivered by Senator Wolcott of Colorado, chairman of the bimetallic commission, upon the negotiations with European countries relative to international bimetallism and the passage of the Lodge bill restricting immigration into the Linked States. The galleries were crowded at an early hour. Unexpectedly Senator Hanna appeared at the opening of the session. Mr. Foraker, the senior Senator from Ohio, presented Mr. Hanna’S credentials for the remainder of Mr. Sherman’s term. He escorted his colleague to the desk, where Vice-President Hobart administered the oath. At the conclusion of the morning business Mr. Wolcott began his address. He was in fine voice’ and commanded the earnest attention of his auditors. At the conclusion of the speech Mr. Wolcpjt was instantly surrounded by his Republican colleagues, desirous of tendering to him congratulations. At the conclusion of Mr. Wolcott’s speech the immigration bill was taken up and discussed until 3 o’clock, the hour at which, by previous agreement, it had been arranged to vote- finally upon the amendments and the hill. An amendment offered by Air. Spooner of Wisconsin providing that the ability on the part of the immigrant either to read or to write should be accepted as a sufficient tes*t- of his literacy was adopted. Another amendment by Air. Spooner providing that the members of the family accompanying the immigrant rejected under the conditions of the bill should he returned to the country whence they came*by- the steamship companies was also adopted. Hither efforts were made to amend the measure, hut failed. The hill was then passed by n vote of 43 to 28. The hill as passeil.provides that all immigrants, physically capable-and over It! years of age shall be able to rend er write the English language or some other language; but a person not able to read or write who is over 50 years of age and is the parent or grandparent of a qualified immigrant over 21 years of age and capable of .supporting such a'parent or grandparent may accompany the immigrant, or the parent or grandparent may be sent for and come to join the family; and n wife or minor child not able to read or write may accompany or be sent for and come to join the husband or parent who is qualified. This act does not apply to persons coming to the United States from the island of Cuba during the continuance of present disorders there, who have heretofore been inhabitants of that island.