The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-10
THE NATIONS PROSPERITY.

THE NATIONS PROSPERITY.
NECESSITY FOR CHECKING CHINESE IMMI-
GRATIoN-wEsrERN FARMING INTERESTS
WEIGHTED DOWN By DEBr-AN INCREASED
CURRENCY WANTED INTERVIEW WITH CHAIR
MAN WRIGHT, OF THE CONGRESSIONAL LABOR
COMMITTEE.
Mr. Hendrick b. Wright. chairman of the Con-
gressioral committee the labor question and kin
dred subjects was found yesterday at the New York
Hotel When accosted by reporter he sad;-"So
tho HERALD is taking interest in the donGs of the
Labor Committee? Well. just let light this cigar
and I'll tell you all know about it,"
The genial old Congressman pulled away vigor-
ously and between whfs talked about tho work
performed by the committee of which he is chair
man. He proceeded to say. in substance that he
succeeded Mr.. Hewitt as chairman. The committee
is now composed OF the following members
Messrs. Wright. of Pennsylvania; O'Connor. of
South Carolina; Martin. of North Carolina; swann.
of Illinois; Murch of Maine; Cogshill. of Indiana.
and Dckie. of Ohio. In this city and elsewhere
during the time of Mr.. Hewitts chairmanship
some six hundred or Seven hundred pages of
evidence were taken from all sorts OF persons
who might have some useful information to i'm
part concerning the labor troubles and the then de-
pressed condition of American trade. Since last
March, when Mr.. Wright accepted the craftsmanship.
the committee assumed far wider sphere of inves-
tigation than had before that time been contem-
plated. They had extended their official visits to
Boston. Chicago and San Francisco. Six members Of
the committee met in Chicago during the month of
July last and invited representatives, of the profess
sional COMMERCIAL manufacturing and industrial
interests to give their views upon the condition of
thar occ Mt n md he 1ah0 nr1a
Two weeks were spent in the capital of the West.
after which the committee removed the scene Of
their labors to San Francisco.
CHINESE QUESTION.
at Is to be supposed that you devoted atten-
ton to the Chinese question" said the reporter.
Eyes; we gave much careful consideration to that
difficult social problem was the reply. 1--WE ex-
amined forty fifty witnesses altogether. Every
of them agreed to the advisability Of prohib-
iting. at least restricting. the continued influx of
the Chinese into the country The test vote OF Cali
1t was something like $4,000 in favor of
prohibiting the immigration. against 800
who favored it's continuance. In the city Of
equal to about twofths of the entire population Of
that city. The Pacific slope maintains at least
many branches Of trade and manufacture. to the
exclusion OF Americans. Take, for instance, the
making Of cigars and boots and shoes. They have
driven all competition out of the field in these
branches; and like the locusts, which destroy
every thing before them they advance the Ceies-
tails are fast preparing to invade other fields OF
terprise.".
''Then they must be more expert workmen than
Americans and deserve the beneht Of their skill"
"Not at all. That is not the point. The thing is
here. An American workman must live like civil
lied, intelligent being who has rational which
must be supplied and comforts that require salts
faction. A Chinaman is more than . passive
piece of machinery. who has sympathy for us
They all cut after the same pattern, formed
on the same block. and they look SO much alike
that whom the gatherer calls cannot tell Chinr
Loo from Chi Hang. The tax collector Is evaded by
every sort of cunning device contrved to escape
nent that protects them. They can live on twenty
cents q day and grow fat on garbage where white
man would starve. They bring even their clothes
and food to the country. They come not to become
useful citizens but to make money and send it to
China. in order to follow ~ speedily themselves
possible They are all single men and do not bring
their wives. nor have they any intention to stay
here. They have crowded every hole and corner on
the Pacific coast and now they are invading the
ROOM FOR SETTLERS ONLY.
"But. considering the sparseness Of the popula-
ton in the United States in proportion to the
try's area there ought to be room enough for them
ali without interfering with the rights Of Others
come here who can be made Americans. The people
belonging to the different divisions OF the Caucasian
civilization adopting it and becoming part Of our.
selves, should always be welcome. With such people
would make no distinction as between them and
those born the soil. They feel like U.S. proud of
the country; they are willing to fght our battles
and TO share our fate. but your Chinaman would no
more think Of fighting for the Union than he would
OF jumping down o mining shaft Why. look at the
way they are in San Francisco. A room twenty feet
rqws OF shelves one the oaer ali t Sa
room. and revel In opium and every sort Of abom-
nation"
"what can be done. in presence Of the treaty with
Gilman
There's just the mischief. That treaty places the
the subjects of the most favored nation We cannot
impose unusual tax upon them, yet Chinese i'm
migration must be vastly lessened. or II not there
will be serious trouble arising from It, think that
after fair notice to China the treaty might be abro-
gated. Anyhow. something must be done to raise
necessary barrier between us and the Monaghan in
vasion which seriously threatens to overflow the
land"
subject than that OF Chinese immigrationY'
1--WE find that there il good degree OF increase in
the prosperity of tho Union almost everywhere.
Trade various sorts IL better than it has been
any time during the last decade. The iron and coal
interests manufactures and commerce. have all taken
very gratifying; but l fear the public expect too
much. 1t was the famine in England produced by
IN navment of crainand provisions exported rhis il
q good showing for America. and doubt the
balance Of trade will continue to be comparatively
favorable to us; but the danger Is that people in
terested will imagine that the rate of exports will
continue to increase instead of beginning to d.
"Wny should the exports diminishp We have
vast resources to draw FROM"
s.rrue but the demand will not be SO great.
good harvest in England next year will materially
reduce the grain exports Besides this the accruing
interest ON our bonds, which In the hands Of
European capitalists, will turn the tide of gold to
dow eastward again
INCREASED DEMAND FOR LABOR
"How do you like the outlook in the labor
market?"
"rhe demand for labor Is generally better than it
was year ago. higher wages are offered and more
employment Is to be had. In Boston the
pretty much at WORK; the chances for the working
man not quite good in Chicago. and San Fran
cisco has more men out of employment in proper
ton to its population than any other great city East
West In tine West the great obstacle prosperity
il the difficulty OF making payments. The
farming interests greatly IN debt. One
half of all the farms in Iowa under mortgage,
and it the opinion lately OF experienced men
there that one-half OF the mortgaRed lands,
quarter of the whole under cultivation, would have
TO be disposed OF by judicial sale. The same state
OF things. though not to 80 great extent.
ported in Ohio aud Indiana"
"What do you propose o remedy for this uusat-
isfactory state of affairsY