The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-10-13
A. A. w.
Yesterdays Sessions at City
Hall.
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS READ AT THE
MEETINGS.
Interesting Details of the Congress.


land great majority of whom previous to th
Congress, had little if any, idea of its scope.
Morning Executive Session.
The members met in private executive SEES
sion at 10 a. m. yesterday in Reception Hall,
new and interesting feature of the execu
tive session was statistical reports from variou
Vice Presidents concerning the criminal casse
of the various states as condensed from record
! of State Prisons. The following question
were more or less fully answered
How many male and emale prisoners ar,
| there?
How many committed for great offences?
Is there any difference in kinds or certant,
| OF punishments because of sex?
In minor offences what is the.average tern
| of punishment?
Answers to these questions were received
from twelve states All of them asserted that
little difference was made in kind of punish
ment between men and women, though the
latter were convicted of crimes such as night
walking, etc.. which are seldom brought
against men as should be done.
The total of all criminal classes in Pennsyl-
vania is 1919 Three fourths of convicts had
been to public schools
New Jersey reported ten per cent OF crimi-
mails os woman.
Many spoke of the general use of tobacco in
prisons and of its pernicous effects
Colorado State penitentiary has had only
three women prisoners for ten years--none at
present.
1t was stated the Institute of Technology
pays equal wages to women and mea.
The full reports we're very interesting, maxi
ing this most important executive session.
Mrs. Ellen M Richards, wife of Professor
Richards Of the Institute of Technology, Bos-
toa, arrived yesterday.
Afternoon Session.
Mrs Caroline M. Severance ofCali fornia was
introduced and read her admirable paper en-
Titled "The Chinese Question from Woman s
Point of View" of which an abstract is given
below.
MRS. sEvERANCE's PAPER.
Mrs. Severance promised that the regretted
her inability to give fuller view of this inn
portant question, and gave some account of
the selection of the title by The committee to
whom she submitted the essay. She had
thought best to give facts open to all. Some
of the authorities upon whom she had drawn
were mentioned, such as Rev. Samuel john
sons History of Eastern Religions, who's had
good opportunity to gather information through
his association with our ministers to China,
Arson M. Buripgame. She also was indebted
to Mr. Giles, British Consul TO China, Senator
Hoar and the Congressional records. The e.
sayist aptly contrasted the past policy of this
country, which was to open up that hoary and
august empire, with the present policy of ex-
clusion. Authentic records show that China
first opened up Asia to civilization. She spoke
of the great antiquity of Chinas civilization,
which has stood for 1000 years; of the purity
of her laws past and present. aud of the reli-
gion, there being no INDECENT idols to be found.
There has long existed ID China a system of
competitive examinations of candidates for
Official service. So carefully have off ,ial mat
tiers been administered that not scrap of off
eial record has ever been lost
She cited overwhelming testimony to show
them to be a aw-abiding and Industrious peo-
Pile, and contrary to the generally received
opinions East, clearly people as well. Their
well observed hygenic laws give them in San
Francisco comparative immunity from epi-
denies. The death rate among them, as
shown by carefully prepared statistics, is lower
than among the white populatop.
The reports now and then appearing of
small pox and similar diseases, being prevalent
who desire to bring these inoffensive people
into disrepute, and is but part OF the Infamous
system of persecution that obtains III Cali
rnia against them. Should not people who
are SO industrious and peaceabe as are the
Chinese in California, he encouraged TO re-
main, rather than excluded from the cou ltry,
because of that bug bear the fear of their COM
ing here in increasing numbers. Prominent
representatives of California have stated the
Chinese population of that State to be alarm
ingly large, some 10000, they have asserted,
while the facts are that there less than Co.,
600 in the whole country. Most of the anti
Chinese statements would probably prove
equally unjust should investigation be made.
We have the testimony of many bankers,
prominent business men, etc, in the city of
San Francisco, that the Chinese merchants
never betray the trust reposed in them; always
meet their obligations, failures among hem
being unknown, and the gentlemen who have
business relations with them, are as wiling to
accept their word as they would that of
brother.
This much for their integrity; now for their
capacity as workmen. Frederick K. Low,
railroad constructor, states as the result OF his
experience with them as laborers, that he
should always give the Chinese preference in
all work requiring steadiness and reliability,
over the whites. he expresses surprise at
their endurance, as well AS skill In certain
work of difficult tunneling on the Pacific rail-
road he found them to excel the Ceraish min
ers, who have heretofore been regarded as the
most efficient workers at this description Of
work Unprecedented business men in Califcr-
MIA frankly admit the immense value in dol
lars and cents of Chinese immigration to that
State She referred to the treaty between this
country and China, which we enforce by pass
port systems equaling the police regulations of
Russia, and summarized the methods by which
the United States has violated the spirit, If nos
the letter of that treaty. In all efforts to ex-
elude criminals and other Objectionable classes
nj IaIQ
have he srtily cooperated. In conclusion she
said in this land of the free it behooved Chris
tans to see that these people receive the Gu
couragement and protection they SO well merit.
(Applause).
Mrs Julia Ward Howe. limited herself, as
an example to speakers who might follow, to a
speech of five minutes durntion, and congratu-
lated the association on The presentation of
Mrs. Severance's excellent paper. No ex-
cuse was needed for the introduction of such
extraneous matter as Congressional re cords
The United States government was ON trial in
this Woman's Congress; arraigned for its treat
ment of the Chinese. 1t is great advantage
for class or nation to have friend some
where. The negro at one time had % friends,
and thea by reason of that miserable trait in
human nature that leads to the maltreatment
of the friendless, he suffered. 1t is only nee
esssry now to say to the brutal carter who is
numerically belaboring his horse that you
[ will mention the case to the Society for the
| Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to save II
| from further abuse Let the canse of the
| Chinese be ours Despite the boosted chivary
| of man, we women are the natural friends of
| the oppressed. Prof Richards says that the key
| to the difficulty ia his opinion, IS that the old
| civilization of China had encountered the new
| civilization of this country, which is character
| ICED by great impotence of restraint. A gen
| tleman stated that he did not consider his life
would be safe were he to employ Chinese. Sc
| we can not blame people from the East !
bending to the popular sentiment in Califor-
| mia.
Miss Eastman followed in an address of char
acteristic vigor and humor. She congratulate
ed the association that Mrs. Severance's paper
was a presentation of the statesmans view Of
the Chinese question rather than woman's
(Applause) Sheithen briefly stated ten vile
methods employed to GUST the Chinaman, who
not drinking whisky and having no vote, il
but of little account anyway, SO powerful il
the liquor interest in California. They asc
crowd the hoodlums, who congregate about the
groggeries curse the Cinnamon for earning an
homes. living, while they can't get $500 a day
for q. ing nothing. Miss Eastman referred in.
L.. "a,