ALIEN LAND BILL TO PASS SENATE

Friends of Measure Claim They Have 28 to 30 Lined Up on Affirmative Side.

VOTE TO BE TAKEN TODAY

by William H. Curry

OLYMPIA, Wednesday, March 2. The antialien land owning and leasing bill -- House bill 79 -- will pass the Senate this afternoon, friends of the measure declared this morning after the completion of a check. They assert they have 28 to 30 of the 42 senators for the measure.

Opponents at noon said every indication was that the bill will pass, but by a narrower margin than the vote claimed by the proponents.

The bill is 12th on today's Senate calendar and will not be reached until late this afternoon.

The calendar was printed and on the desks last night before the judiciary committee, which had the measure, had made its report. This is cited in evidence of the haste with which the anti-Japanese lobby here is pushing the bill and, further, as an indication of the sentiment of the rules committee, which makes up the calendar. The ordinary bill, however meritorious, usually has quite a stay in the rules committee before it gets out for final action. Senators not on that committee this morning are questioning the haste to shove this bill over with the inauguration of the Harding administration only two days away.

The Senate judiciary committee divided on the bill, submitting two reports. One recommending that it do pass was signed by Senators Groff, Westfall, Hastings, Adamson, Landon, Metcalf, Loomis and Wray. The report recommending that it do not pass has the signatures of Senators Morthland, Wells and Palmer.

The Washington congressional delegation has not yet given the senators any definite information as to the attitude of President-elect Harding. Senator Miles Poindexter in response to the inquiry made Monday telegraphed Senator D.H. Cox of Walla Walla last night that he was unable to advise the State Senate, as he had not seen House bill 79 and had not had an opportunity of getting Mr. Harding's views. He suggested that Mr. Harding be communicated with direct. The senators hesitate to do this.