To amend S. 3175, by imposing a "head tax" of $10.00 for every immigrant and not $4.00 as provided for in bill. (p. 5023-1)

On Apr 19, 1912, the Senate voted 26–32 (S 3175). Result: failed. By party: Republicans 10–24, Democrats 18–11. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 21 members voted against their own party.

During the 62nd Congress (1911–1912), William Howard Taft was president, and Democrats held the House majority and Republicans the Senate majority.

Yes: 26
No: 32
Did not vote: 46
Date: Apr 19, 1912

By party

Democrats18 yes · 11 no · 24 didn’t vote
Republicans10 yes · 24 no · 22 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

James Paul Clarke D-AR voted no
Marcus Aurelius Smith D-AZ voted no
George Clement Perkins R-CA voted yes
Albert Baird Cummins R-IA voted yes
Benjamin Franklin Shively D-IN voted no
John Worth Kern D-IN voted no
Charles Curtis R-KS voted yes
Joseph Little Bristow R-KS voted yes
William O'Connell Bradley R-KY voted yes
Isidor Rayner D-MD voted no
John Walter Smith D-MD voted no
Charles Fletcher Johnson D-ME voted no
William Joel Stone D-MO voted no
John Sharp Williams D-MS voted no
Le Roy Percy D-MS voted no
Jacob Harold Gallinger R-NH voted yes
Albert Bacon Fall R-NM voted yes
James Aloysius O'Gorman D-NY voted no
George Sutherland R-UT voted yes
Miles Poindexter R-WA voted yes
Wesley Livsey Jones R-WA voted yes

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To amend S. 3175, by imposing a "head tax"…: Senate Vote, Apr 19, 1912,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/62-S-137/to-amend-s-3175-by-imposing-a-head-tax (accessed 2026-10-17).