The Portland daily press., 1882-03-09
XLVIIth Congress-1st Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March s.

w AodlNGlONy
On motion of Mr.. Hawley, the statements
and testimony taken before the Committee on
the Civil Service relative to bills, proposing re-
form in the modes of appointment of subordi-
nate executive officers, was ordered printed.
Mr. Garland introduced bill for the con-
struction, repairing and preservation OF levees
on the Mississippi river. 1t was temporarily
tabled, subject TO his call.
Mr. jackson, from the Committee on i'm
provements of the Mississippi river, reported
the original bill appropriating $4,000 to CON
tinue improvements of Memphis harbor, Ten
nessee.
The bill for commission on the alcoholic
liquor traffic came up on the calendar, the
question being on Mr.. Bayard's motion to COM
nit it to the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Bayard's motion was rejected-yeas ~,
nays %.
The bill was then read and the pending me-
ton by Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, to amend
SO as to prevent the commission from being ex-
clusiyely partisan, was adopted:
The Chinese bill was then taken up and Mr..
Plat opposed it.
A vote was ordered upon Mr.. ingalls, amend
ment, limiting the suspension of the coming of
Chinese laborers to ten years. The amend
ment was defeated on tie vote-nays %, yeas
%.
Mr.. Hoar arose and resumed the discussion.
He said the vote just taken showed that it was
the purpose of those having charge of the bill
to force it through without regard to its effect
upon the public faith of the Government,
pledged by an act in which the Senate took its
share, to the Emperor of China. He refuted
Mr.. Edmunds' point that homogenity of peo-
pie was essential to the welfare of the repub-
lie, and argued that under the bill if the Chi
nese youth now being educated here should
ennoble their condition by becoming laborers
they would have to leave the country. He
thought 1T unworthy of Senators to class those
who opposed this legislation upon principle
with free lovers and people not subject to moral
restraints
Mr.. Edmunds, in answer to Mr.. Hoar's clos
ing statement, replied that the right to decide
what constitutes moral law was one inherent
in the Government, and by analogy the right to
regulate the character of the people who shall
come into it belonged to the Government. This
depended upon national policy, and the fact as
to most of ancient republics, that they did not
possess homogenity, was the cause of their fall
There was no foundation for the charge of vic
lation of moral and public law in our making
distinctions as to foreigners we admit. He
said Sumner, the predecessor of Mr.. Hoar, was
the author OF the law on the coolie traffic,
which imposes fines and penalties more severe
than those in this bill upon any master of an
American vessel carrying Chlnaman who is
a servant The present bill followed that leg
islation. Mr.. Edmunds added that he would
vote against the bill if the twenty years clause
was retained, but would maintain the sound
ness OF the principle he had enunciated.
Mr.. ingalls, moved an amendment, postpon-
ing the time at which the act shall take effect
until Sixty Gays aIter tne ln,orm Ei VI lls
passage mas peen conmunlcatea 10 Oniha. ne
LOOK occasion 10 STATE ms positioh VIII regard
to the Pill, which ne claimed was mlsrepre-
yesterday Dy senator DaWes: heIerring 10 Inc
anti-Chinese plank in the platform adopted by
tne iasI hepup,lcsn NatloIal oonvention, pIe-
Sl9eu oFSE w tno oonaoor ifoir MaSsaonuSo'1S
lnoarl ne inqulrsu why sna. eena.or nau nos
then stoou up anu Ceclafeu snae !. vas Gon,iar J
TO the FUNDAMENTAL principles Oh tne Deciara-
ton OF independence ana contrary 10 tne rights
OF humanity. IL ala not come WIN good grace
tnat the Two senators from MASSACHUSETTS
should assume all the virtue OF the RepuDilcan
party ana assert tnaI ANYBODY VINO ol1ere9
from them Yves moved by hate NO man could
against the body OF the people OF the united
states Wnen ne advocated thelr Importation Dy
any sentimental cry OF races ana protnernooo
Oh man.
Mr.. ingalls, subsequently modlned his amend
ment Dy provldlng tnat the act snouid not go
into erect until ninety days a1ter us passage,
and the amendment was ADOPTED.
On moaon OF MT. bayara amendments were
adopted making the second secton read as iol-
lows. inag any master Q, any vessei u
SUCH vessel, Drlng WITHIN the Jurisdlctlon OF tne
United states ana permit 10 DO iandea any
NJ Tya, - 80 i ~ -, ~, :, ~ = I;1, r. ad;, -
tAiO AoilOW iOFioCu tA1o blli ohoil LOA
apply to any skilled laborer who shall establish
that he comes to this country without any con-
tract binding his labor as the property OF any
person beside hismseH."
Mr.. Farley suggested that fall the Chinese
would claim to be skilled laborers.
Mr.. Hoar replied it would test whether the
bill struck at coolies or at skilled labor. The
amendment was rejected. Yeas IL, nays 81.
Mr.. Hoar moved to amend by inserting "pro-
vided any laborer who shall receive certif-
Gate from the United States counsel at the port
whence he shall embark, that he is an artisan
coming to this country at his own expense and
OF his own will shall not be affected by this
bill. Lost-Yeas 10, nays "a.
On motion of Mr.. Miller proviso directing
the removal of any Chinese unlawfully found
in customs collection district by the collector,
was amended to direct that he shall be remov-
ed to the place from whence he came.
On motion of Mr.. Brown an amendment was
adopted providing that the mark of Chinese
immigrant duly attested by Witnesses may be
taken as his signature upon certificate of re-
QUESTION issued to him.
The question then REQUIRED on the amend
ment offered by MIR. Farley that hereafter no
State court or United States court shall admit
Chinese to citizenship. Mr.. Farley rose to
quiuies," but yielded for adjournment Of the
Senate at 6.10. Adjourned to tomorrow.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Reed OF Name from the commlttee on
rules reported the amendments to the rules
presented BY him some days ago and printed ID
the Record. There has been some slight mod
ifications made, the most important OF which
is the addition OF clause providing that 1t
shall be IN order Tor the House, on motlon TO
go into committee OF the whole, to designate
the bill which shall be first considered. A rule
is also added according the second and fourth
Mondays after the morning hour to the consid-
GRAFTON OF business relative to the District OF
Oolumola. .,,o
Laid over under the rules
Under call OF committees the following
bills were reported:
By Mr. Harris OF the committee on naval
affairs authorizing the construction OF vessels
OF war for the navy OF the United States Re
ferred to the committee OF the whole.
By Mr.. Morey OF Mississippi from committee
on post offices and post roads, providing for