The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-05-04
XLVIIth CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE

THE Senate resumed consideration of the
Mississippi River Improvement bill appropriat-
ing $6, 000, 900. All pending amendments to
increase the appropriation and apply part of
the money for the benefit of the levee system
were withdrawn and the bill passed by a vioa
voce vote, without an objection. On motion
of Mr.. Miller, of California, who reported it,
the House bill to execute certain treaty stipula-
tions relating to the Chinese was taken up,
and the Senate committee amendments. up to
the last sections "a and Is were agreed to
as read. Upon reaching the amendment strik-
ing out the 14th section, which prohibits any
State or United States Court from admitting
Chinese to citizenship, Mr.. Farley insisted the
section should be retained He said the COM
mittee had assumed it was not necessary; but
he knew that, notwithstanding the prohibition
of the statute on the subject, the courts had
naturalized Cinnamon. He wanted now a
specific enactment ON the point. The amend
ment of the committee to strike out
was rejected and the section retained-yeas,
26; nays, 80. The committee amendment
striking out the fifteenth section, which defines
the words "Chinese laborers" wherever used
in the act to mean both skilled and unskilled
laborers and Chinese employed in mining, was
carried by yeas az, nays %. The vote was
party one, except that Miller, of California,
Jones, of Nevada, and Cameron, of Wisconsin,
voted with the Democrats.
In the debate on the Chinese bill Mr.. Slater
tors that the people of the Pacific Coast were of
the Caucasian race, and descendants of the
men of Massachusetts who threw overheard the
tea in Boston harbor. They had reclaimed that
beautiful land from wilderness, and they
would not surrender 1t. Mr.. Hawley reiterated
his unconditional hostility to the measure. Mr..
Edmunds moved an amendment defining the
words ''Chinese laborers" to mean persons
who are usually engaged in manual labor.
After an executive session the Senate adjourned.
Mr.. Sherman introduced bill to regulate the
coinage of the standard silver dollar. The
political disabilities bill gave rise to political
discussion, the most animated Of the session,
in which Mr.. Edmund championed the opposi-
ton to the measure and opposed the indiscrimi-
nate removal of disabilities from ex-Con-
federates, and Messrs. Vest, Garland. Maxey,
and Hampton responded. No action was taken,
and the Senate took up the anti-Chinese bill.
A long controversy took place between Messrs.
Farley and Vest and the Massachusetts, Senators
upon all allegations that extraordinary efforts
were necessary to protect the Chinese laborers
employed in Massachusetts some years ago.
The Chair stated the question to be upon con-
curing in the amendment made in Committee
of the Whole, striking out the 18th section,
which defines the words "Chinese laborers " to
mean both skilled and unskilled laborers.
Without action the bill went over.
Consideration of tho anti Chinese bill was re-
sumed, the question being upon concurring in
the amendment striking out the 18th section,
which construes the words :" Chinese laborers" :"
to mean skill and unskilled laborers. On a
vote the section was retained-yeas 20, nays 25.
After rejecting several amendments, the bill
passed-veas 80, nays Is. The following is the
vote: Yeas.-Beck, Butler, Call, Cameron
(Wis.), Chilcott, Coke, Davis Il.), Fair, Far
ley, Garland, George, Grover. Hale, Hampton
Harris COL Johnston, Jones, Jones (Nev.
Ma1ey, Miller (Col), Miller IN. Y.), Morgan,
Pendleton, Pugh, Saunders, Slater, Vance,
Van Wyck, Vest, Walker, Williams 50: Nays.
Allison, Blair, Conger, Dawes, Edmunds,
Frye, Harrison, Hawley, Hoar, ingalls,, lap
ham, Mcmillan. Morrill,, Platt. Sherman--15.