New-York tribune., 1879-01-04
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE rRIBUSEl

7
TON OF Mr. ADAMS, AND F1NANcE DISCUSSED
YESTERDAY.
iBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSEl
WAsuINGToN Jan. 3.-The Cabinet devoted the
most of its session to-day to the discussion Of the
Chinese question.
Ever since fhe present Administration came into
mower il has been the desire of the President and
Secretary Evarts TO take some steps looking 10 the
restriction or prohibition of Chinese imm' grafton
into tins country. The consideration of the
question has been postponed by the establishment
of a Chinese Embassy and by the expectation or
hope that the new Minister would indicate in some
way what his Government desired to do IN the
premises This has not been done even informally
but il Is known that the officials of the new En-
bassv maintain that the Government Of the United
States is fully bound by the existing 0Burllngamel
treaty. and that whatever changes the
United States may now desire TO make
must be reached by negotiation. In other
words they hold that the United States cannot OF
itself impose any restrictions upon immigration
without violation Of the treaty, and that the Oov-
srDment is bound to see that 10 State assumes a
hostile attitude toward Chinese subjects IN contra
ypution of the treaty They hold on this point IN
deed the position announced by Secretary Evarts
IN regard to the hostile action OF New
FoundlaDd against American fishermen, which
is that no local authority can pass laws in violation
Of q treaty made by the Central Government. Ims
doctrine the Administration is understood TO ac-
Cept rs binding upon the United States in the case
Of the Chinese: and in recognition of It Secretary
Tyarts will at once communicate with the Chinese
Embassy IN this city for the purpose of opening ne
eotIations on the subject.
The resignation by Charles Francis Adams. jr. OF
his post as Government Director Of the Union Pa
cifc Railroad was submitted to the President and
the Cabinet to-day. The reasons assigned by Mr.
Adams for this step are very fully set forth in hls
communication. which was not read but the con-
tents of which were stated brief by the Secretary
of the Interior.
Nj. Adams thinks that It is hardly right or proper
that a Government Director of the company who
Il expected TO act as sort Of censor upon IT, should
be dependent upon the company for his salary and
for hospitaIItes. This is matter which IS Tegu-
lated bv law, and the Government Directors, of
roursc have no control over il. II is easy TO
see that the position OF an officer who
desire. to do his duty mpartialy under such circum
stance cannot he pleasant. Mr.. Adams also thinks
that the Directors of the Pacific Railroad do not
have A. much power as they ought to exercise and
that the affairs Of the company are managed by an
INpcutlvr Committee by other branches
of the internal organization without the, IN
tprveution In many tcases OF the Directors. i Ills
- also criticism of the law. and not Ui tie ON rIS
of tbc company. Finally. Mr. Adams think that
Tho con!pciIsatIon of Government Director j. not
sufficient 10 enable him 10 CIV" that amount ot
time and labor TO his duties winch their
inheritance demands. The salary IL SO a day. and
il !, paid for the t'we the Director IS employed.
which is only about sixty days ID year
No action was taken on the resignation to-day.