Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-05-12


anti-Chinese bill stopping immigration from
China TO this country for ten years. "Con-
uasted with his utterances in vetoing the
twenty years bill" says the Baltimore Day,
"Mr: rthur's action in approving legisla-
ton which must have almost identically the
same results is certainly little curious
The new Chinese law declares that from
and after the expiration Of ninety days next
after the passage of the act, and until the
expiration of ten years next after the pas
sage Of the act, the coming of Chinese la
borers to the United States shall be suspend.
ed, and during such suspension il shall not
be lawful for any Chinese aborer to come,
or, having 50 come after the expiration of
said ninety days, To remain within the United
States; also that the master of any vessel
who shall knowingly bring within the
United States on such vessel, and land or
permit to be landed, any Chinese laborer
from any foreign port or place, shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and ON
conviction thereof shall be punished by
tahA VI aOs thoiO sihAi YoOO tuCu anu eN-
cry such Chinese laborer so brought, and
may be also imprisoned for term not ex.
ceeding one year. The bill further provides
for the registration of Chinese laborers now
in the country or who may come TO the
United States within the next ninety DAYS,
should they leave this country with the in
tention OF returning, in order that they may
be identified on their return. There are
other provisions framed to prevent evasion
Of the act, and one declaring that any per-
son who shall knowingly bring into, or
cause to be brought into the United States
by land, or who shall knowingly aid or abet
the same, or aid or abet the landing in the
United States from any vessel, of any Chi
nese person not lawfully entitled 10 enter
the United States, shall BE- deemed guilty of
u misdemeanor, and shall ON conviction
thereof be fined in sum not exceeding
$1,000 and imprisoned for term not ex.
ceeding one year. Further on it lis provided
that no Chinese person shall be permitted to
enter the United States by land without pro.
ducing TO the proper officer OF customs the
certificate In this act required of Chinese
persons seeking To land from vessel. And
any Chinese person found unlawfully with
in the United States shall becaused TO be re-
moved thereirom to the country from whence
he came by direction of the President of the
United States, and at the cost of the United
States, after being brought before some JUS
uce, Judge or commissioner of court of the
United States, and found to be one not law.
fully entitled TO be or remain in the United
States.
"rhe act does not apply TO diplomatic and
other officers of the Chinese government,
and their body and household servants are
also exempted. Naturalization of the Chi.
nese is forbidden, and the words Chinese la
borers' are construed to mean both skilled
and unskilled laborers and Chinese EN-.
ployed in mining"
Practically the bill approved differs very
little from the bill vetoed, save In the reduc.
ton Of the time for which it shall continue
to be operatiye-from twenty to ten years.
Mr.. Arthur seems TO have waived the other
objections which he urged against the We
toed bill and to have yielded completely TO
the appeals which have doubtless been made
to him to "ssve the party" on the Pacific
coast He was particularly strenuous in his
opposition 10 the passport or registration
clause; but notwithstanding the fact that
the same provision was incorporated in the
new bill he appended his signature, hoping
doubtless to excuse the inconsistency by ar.
guing that his principal objection TO the
original measure-that is, the extension Of
the period Of restriction TO twenty years
had been removed by the substitution of
half that period.