U.S. Government (1912-1913)

U. S. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OF INTEREST

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND AFFAIRS OF INTEREST TO THE JEWS [For items relating to the Passport Question see pp. 196-210.] 1911 July 1. Immigration Commissioner William Williams, New York, in annual report to Commissioner General, traduces immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, and shows his animus by characterizing the residents of Eliza- beth, Rivington, Orchard, and East Houston Streets as follows: [They] "possess filthy habits and are of an ignorance that passes belief." Aug. 7. Rep. Seaborn A. Roddenbery (Ga.), introduces Bill (H. R. 13,368) providing for exclusion of aliens over fourteen years of age unable to read and write, those not possess- ing one hundred dollars in cash, those not having certificates of good moral character, those not passing physical test equal to that of United States Army, those judged to be " physically, mentally, or morally unfit to be American citizens," and a head-tax of $50. 7. Sen. William P. Dillingham (Vt.), introduces Bill (S. 3175) providing for an educational test for immigrants, the exclusion of those not eligible for naturalization, the consolidation of the Chinese exclusion law with the general immigration statutes, the procuring by each immigrant of a " certificate of admission and identity," and other restrictive features. Dec. 8. Rep. Adolph J. Sabath (111.), introduces Bill (H. R. 15,126) providing for improvements in the steerage of vessels bringing immigrants to the United States. 1912 Jan. 10. Rep. Martin Dies (Tex.), introduces Bill (H. R. 17,601) excluding all aliens over sixteen years of age unable to read. 11-12. Hearings before House Committee on Immigration in opposition to restrictive Bills. Statements by Louis W. Hammerling, John Vicario, A. G. Johnson, S. J. Vlasto, L. E. Miller, L. C. Frank, Fred. A. Larson, Charles K. Johansen, Rev. C. L. Orbach, all representing American Association of Foreign Language Newspapers; Max J. Kohler and Simon Wolf, representing Board of Delegates of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Miss Grace Abbott, Director Immigrants' Protective League, Chicago; Judge Leon Sanders, President Hebrew Shelter- 212 AMERICAN JEWISH YEAR BOOK

ing and Immigrant Aid Society, New York; Rep. Henry M. Goldfogle (N. Y.), Ven Svarc and Albert P. Mamatey, National Slavonic Society; Cyrus L. Sulzberger and Her- bert Friedenwald of the American Jewish Committee; Gino C. Speranza, New York, and Isaac A. Hourwich, Washington. Jan. 13. Rep. Adolph J. Sabath (111.), introduces Bill (H. R. 17,827) providing that no alien shall be debarred from admission to United States, if thereby children are sepa- rated from parents, or vice versa, if parent or parents or majority of family are admissible. 18. Senate Committee on Immigration reports Dillingham Immigration Bill (S. 3175; see Aug. 7) amended by strik- ing out the educational test provision. 19. Rep. Benjamin K. Focht (Pa.), introduces Bill (H. R. 18,342) providing for the exclusion of persons not eligible to naturalization, the consolidation of the Chinese exclusion laws with the general immigration statutes, and the procuring by all aliens of " certificates of admission and identity, and other restrictive features." 27. Rep. Adolph J. Sabath (111.), introduces Bill (H. R. 18,851) to increase the scope of the work of the Division of Information of the Immigration Bureau. Feb.1-2. Hearing before House Committee on Immigration in favor of restriction of immigration. Statements by T. J. Brooks, of Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union, John J. Weitzel, Rev. M. D. Lichliter, and William B. Griffith, representing Junior Order United American Mechanics, and Rep. Martin Dies (Texas). 14. Dillingham Immigration Bill (S. 3175) recommitted to the Senate Committee on Immigration, amended, and reported back to Senate. 17. Rep. Francis Burton Harrison (N. Y.), appears before House Committee on Immigration in opposition to restriction of immigration. 21. Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge (Mass.), introduces Bill (S. 5416) providing for an educational test for immigrants. 24. Rep. Richard Bartholdt (Mo.), and Marcus Braun (N. Y.) appear before House Committee on Immigration in opposition to restriction of immigration. 29. Hearing before House Committee on Immigration in favor of restriction of immigration. Statements by Samuel Gompers, President American Federation of Labor, and H. E. Wills, representing various railroad employees' organizations. Men. 1. Rep. John L. Burnett (Ala.), introduces Bill (H. R. 21,175) providing for the exclusion of aliens over sixteen years of age unable to read. U. S. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OF INTEREST 213

Mch. 2. Rep. Sabath (111.), introduces Bill (H. R. 21,220) providing for the supervision and protection of immigrants en route to their destinations; for the establishment of stations for this purpose; and the erection and main- tenance of such a station in Chicago. 18. Sen. Frank M. Simmons (N. C.) makes speech favoring restriction of immigration and announces intention to offer amendment embodying an educational test to the Dillingham Bill (S. 3175). 18. Rep. Burnett (Ala.), introduces Bill (H. R. 22,048) providing for educational test for immigrants. 28. Rep. John L. Burnett (Ala.), introduces Bill (H. R. 22,527) providing for educational test for all immigrants over sixteen years of age. Apl. 16. House Committee on Immigration reports favorably Burnett Bill (H. R. 22,527). 17. Sen. William P. Dillingham (Vt.), makes speech in favor of Bill (S. 3175) introduced by him, providing for restriction of immigration. 18. Senate considers Dillingham Immigration Bill (S. 3175) as reported by the Committee on Immigration. Speeches in favor of an educational test by Senators Borah and Heyburn (Idaho), Root (N. Y.), and Williams (Miss.); in opposition, by Senators Martine (N. J.) and O'Gorman (N. Y.). 19. Senate passes Dillingham Bill (S. 3175). Educational test adopted by vote of 56 to 9 (Clarke, Ark., Fall, N. M., Gronna, N. D., Nelson, Minn., O'Gorman, N. Y., Rayner, Md., Shively, Ind., Smith, Md., and Stone, Mo., voting against). Root Amendment providing for deportation of aliens in residence in United States who conspire for vio- lent overthrow of a foreign government adopted. 25. Hearing before House Committee on Military Affairs to delegation favoring appointment of Jewish chaplain in Army. Statements by Nissim Behar, Nathan Krass, Aaron D. Levy, and others representing Federation of Jewish Organizations of New York. 25. Rep. Sabath (111.) files minority report signed by Messrs. Goldfogle (N. Y.), Curley (Mass.), Moore (Pa.), and Catlin (Mo.), of House Committee on Immigration, opposing Burnett Bill restricting immigration. May 1. Rep. Burnett (Ala.), introduces resolution (H. Res. 518) fixing May 14 for consideration of and vote on Bill (H. R. 22,527) providing an educational test for immigrants. 2. Rep. James Young (Tex.), speaking to legislative, execu- tive, and judicial appropriation Bill, makes speech favoring the imposition of an educational test for immigrants. 214 AMERICAN JEWISH YEAR BOOK

May 7-8. Hearing before House Committee on Immigration to opponents of restriction of immigration consisting of delegates from Philadelphia (Louis E. Levy, Solomon Solis Cohen, Maurice J. Speiser, Joseph Gross, and Jacob Ginsburg); Boston (Julius Friedenberg and Joseph Simon); Pittsburg (A. M. Ashinsky); Baltimore (Adolph Kress, Israel Silberstein, M. E. Selenkow, Louis H. Levin); New York (Wm. S. Bennett, Herbert Parsons, Stephen S. Wise, Joseph Barondess, Miss Lillian D. Wald, John J. Ohsol, Edward Sanford, Aaron D. Levy, Frank L. Frugone, Nissim Behar, and Mark J. Katz). 21. House Committee on Immigration, by vote of 7 to 5, decide to table the Dillingham Bill (S. 3175). 22. Rep. Martin Dies (Tex.), speaking to Bill for establishment of Bureau of Mines, makes speech favoring restriction of immigration. June 7. House Committee on Immigration votes to substitute the Burnett Bill (see Mch. 28) for the Dillingham Bill and report it to the House. 8. House Committee on Immigration reports favorably on Sabath Bill (H. R. 2122). See Mch. 2. 10. Senator O'Gorman (N. Y.), has printed as a Senate document (S. Doc. 785) a statement, signed by Moe Leu- kowsky and Anton Kaufman, Chairman and Secretary of the Citizens' Committee of Orchard, Rivington, and East Houston Streets, New York City, refuting calumnies con- tained in the annual report of the Commissioner of Im- migration Williams. (See July 1, 1911.) 12. Rep. Goldfogle (N. Y.) files minority report, signed by Messrs. Sabath (111.), Curley (Mass.), Moore (Pa.), and Catlin (Mo.), of House Committee on Immigration, opposing Burnett Bill restricting immigration. 18. Rep. J. Hampton Moore (Pa.) delivers a speech in Con- gress opposing an educational test for immigrants. 19. Representatives Mann (111.), Lobeck (Neb.), and Camp- bell (Kans.), deliver speeches in Congress in opposition to, and Burnett (Ala.), in favor of, an educational test for immigrants. Petitions opposing the passage of the Dillingham and Burnett Immigration Bills, providing for the restriction of immigration by a literacy test, were presented in Congress on various dates by the following organizations: Anderson, S. C: Cong. B'nai Israel.—Baltimore, Md.: Chamber of Commerce.—Bingham Canon, Utah: Bingham Miners' Union.— Boston, Mass.: Boston Lettish Workmen's Ass'n.—Brooklyn, N. Y.: Lithuanian Workers, United Polish Society.—Buffalo, N. Y.: U. S. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OF INTEREST 215

Italian Businessmen's Ass'n, Local Colony Alliance of Polish Roman Catholic Union, Polish Falcon Gymnastic Society, Polish Liberal Circle, Polish Singing Circle, Sons of Poland.—Chattanooga, Tenn.: Cong. B'nai Zion, Young Men's Hebrew Ass'n.—Chicago, 111.: Ass'n Jewish "Women, City Council, Cong. Anshe Liebowitz, Cong. Sharei Sholim, Independent Order B'nai B'rith, Polish National Alliance, Polish Roman Catholic Union, Union League Club, United Lithuanian Societies—Gaylor, Mich.: Kosciusko Political Club, St. Mary's Church, St. Michael Society, St. Stanis- laus Society.—Grand Junction, Colo.: Trades Labor Assembly.— Hammond, Ind.: Knights of Columbus.—Johnstown, N. Y.: City Council.—Lackawanna, Pa.: Church Societies.—Lowell, Mass.: Board of Trade.—Metz, Mich.: St. Dominick Society.—Milwaukee, Wis.: Chamber of Commerce.—Minneapolis, Minn.: Holy Cross Society, Jewish Charities, Polish Club, St. Anthony Society.— Newark, N. J.: Cong. Anshe Russia.—New Haven, Conn.: In- dependent Minsker Ass'n, Independent Wilner Ass'n, Knights of Israel, Peddlers' Protective Ass'n.—New York City, N. Y.: Atlantic Coast Seamen's Union, American Ass'n Foreign Language News- papers, Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 309, Central Federated Union, Council of Jewish Women, Federation of Bess- arabian Organizations, German Machinists Benevolent Ass'n, He- brew American Typographical Union, Hebrew Veterans of the War with Spain, Independent Order Ahawas Israel, Independent Order Brith Abraham, International Ladies' Garment Workers Union, Jewish Community (Kehillah), Labor Council Greater New York, Lackawanna Steel Co., National Liberal Immigration League, Political Refugees' League of America, United Hebrew Trades, Workmen's Circle.—Omaha, Neb.: Hebrew Club.—Philadelphia, Pa.: Hebrew Sunday School Society, Independent Order B'rith Sholom, Italo-American Alliance, National German American Alli- ance, Polish American Societies of Pennsylvania, Society for Italian Immigrants.—Pittsburg, Pa.: Chamber of Commerce.—Provi- dence, R. I.: Hebrew Criterion Ass'n, Young Men's Hebrew Ass'n. —Rochester, N. Y.: Cong. Beth Hamedrash Hagodol.—Salt Lake City, Utah.: Monteflore Cong., Salt Lake Federation of Labor.— St. Louis, Mo.: Jewish Charitable and Educational Union, United Jewish Charitable and Educational Union.—San Francisco, Calif.: California State Federation of Labor, Labor Council.—Somerville, N. Y.: Cong. Anshe Chesed.—South Bend, Ind.: Polish American Societies.—Syracuse, N. Y.: Cong. Adath Jeshurun, Cong. Beth Israel.—Waterbury, Conn.: Hebrew Benefit Ass'n.—Wilkes-Barre, Pa.: Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Young Men's Hebrew Ass'n. —Youngstown, 0.: Citizens.1

1 The references to petitions given above have been taken from the Con- gressional Record. 216 AMERICAN JEWISH YEAR BOOK

LIST OF JEWISH MEMBEES OF THE CONGEESS OF THE UNITED STATES PAST BENJAMIN, JUDAH PHILIP, 1812-1884. Sen. from La., 1853-1861. EINSTEIN, EDWIN, 1842-1906. Rep. from N. Y., 1879-1881. EMERICH, MAETIN, 1847- . Rep. from 111., 1903-1907. FISCHER, ISRAEL F., 1858- . Rep. from N. Y., 1895-1899. FRANK, NATHAN, 1852- . Rep. from Mo., 1889-1891. GOLDZIER, JULIUS, 1854- . Rep. from 111., 1893-1895. HART, EMANUEL B., 1809-1897. Rep. from N. Y., 1851-1853. HOUSEMAN, JULIUS, 1832-1891. Rep. from Mich., 1883-1885. JONAS, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 1834-1911. Sen. from La., 1879-1885. LESSLER, MONTAGUE, 1869- . Rep. from N. Y., 1902-1903. LEVIN, LEWIS CHARLES, 1808-1860. Rep. from Pa., 1845-1851. LEVY, DAVID. See YULEE, DAVID LEVY. LITTAUER, Lucius NATHAN, 1859- . Rep. from N. Y., 1897-1907. MAY, MITCHELL, 1871- . Rep. from N. Y., 1899-1901. MEYER, ADOLPH, 1842-1908. Rep. from La., 1891-1908. MORSE, LEOPOLD, 1831-1892. Rep. from Mass., 1877-1885, 1887-1889. PHILLIPS, HENBY MYER, 1811-1884. Rep. from Pa., 1857-1859. PHILLIPS, PHILIP, 1807-1884. Rep. from Ala., 1853-1855. PULITZER, JOSEPH, 1847-1911. Rep. from N. Y., 1885-1886. SIMON, JOSEPH, 1851- . Sen. from Ore., 1898-1903. STRAUS, ISIDOR, 1845-1912. Rep. from N. Y., 1894-1895. STROUSE, MYEB, 1825-1878. Rep. from Pa., 1863-1867. WOLF, HARRY B., 1880- . Rep. from Md., 1907-1909. YULEE, DAVID LEVY, 1811-1886. Del. from Fla., 1841-1845; Sen. from Fla., 1845-1851, 1855-1861. PRESENT (MEMBERS OF THE SIXTY-SECOND CONGRESS) GOLDFOGLE, HENRY M., Democrat, Representative, New York City, 1901- GUGGENHEIM, SIMON, Republican, Senator, Colorado, 1907- KAHN, JULIUS, Republican, Representative, San Francisco, 1889- 1902, 1905- LEVY, JEFFEBSON MONROE, Democrat, Representative, New York City, 1899-1901,1911- RAYNER, ISIDOR, Democrat, Representative, Baltimore, 1887-1889, 1891-1895; Senator, Maryland, 1905- SABATH, ADOLPH J., Democrat, Representative, Chicago, 1907-