The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-03-24
XLVIIth Congress-lst Session,
SENATE.
WAsHINaroN, March 23.


Mr.. Window, from the committee on foreign
relations, reported adversely the Senate bill in
relation to the Venezuela award. indefinitely
postponed.
Mr.. Platt, from the committee on patents,
reported fayorably bill relating 10 the regula-
ton of trade marks.
Mr.. George, from the committee on agricul-
ture, reported as substitute Tor several meas
ures before that committee an original bill to
constitute the department OF agriculture an
executive department., ana TO enlarge It's pow
ers and duties.
The above reports went to the calendar.
A bill was introduced by Mr. Frye to provide
for the formation and admission into the
Union of the State of Washington
The life saving service bill was again taken
IN and discussion upon an amendment pro-
posing new stations occupied the remainder of
the time allotted to the calendar. The bill
was not acted upon.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Rollins for the
improvement of the channel of CochecO river,
N. FL.
At 2 10 the tariff commission bill came up as
regular ORDER and Mr.. Salisbury opposed the
appointment of a commission as oil no practical
use in the establishment OF a proper revenue
system. He advocated the reduction of the
tariff to the actual wants of the government,
and urged the necessity for this modification at
the present session.
Mr. Garland argued that the only copstitu-
tional power of Congress over the tariff was
tldJ WHICH IL Q6TlN6u HUH tLo Clduho oiIlpOW-
ering it to levy and collect taxes for the pur-
pose of raising revenue.
Mr. Buck said he would reply to Mr.. Frye
tomorrow, and controversy followed between
Messrs. Frye and Williams as to the actual
market price of cotton and other details in the
computation upon which the latter's assertion
was made.
Pending the motion for an executive session,
Messrs. Bayard and Sherman asked unani-
nous consent to an agreement to dispose of the
bill tomorrow, but objection was made.
A communication from the Secretary of
War was submitted recommending an increase
in the clerical force in his Office and in the Off
ces of the Adjutant General and Surgeon Gem
eral of the army.
Adjourned
HOUSE.
The House this morning resumed the debate
Mr.. Morse of Massachusetts based his oblec-
ton to the bill upon the ground that 1t would
destroy the commerce between the United
States and China The markets of the latter
country would be forever, closed against us by
mad policy which had nothing to recon-
mend it except small and mean temporary
advantage. He would vote against it as un-
Democratic, un-Republican and un-American,
dangerous to the United States as nation and
Injurious to our commerce.
Mr.. Joyce of Vermont stated the following
grounds why he should vote against the bill:
l. Because it was in violation of our treaty obli-
cations in absolutely prohibiting all laborers from
coming here for 20 years.
2. 1t hostile to the spirit of our free insti-
lions as shown by our record of a century
8. 1t was in direct contradiction to our policy
with all nations of the earth for hundred years.
4. 1t was a new and dangerous departure in our
foreign policy.
5. It was bold and unwarrantable Reputation of
national declarations from the settlement OF the
colonies down to this time.
6. 1t was foolish and unnecessary ad mission in
public law that we had been wrong for twenty
Z. 1t was building the same wall against China
that she had reared and kept up against the world
for centuries.
s. He thought it was deadly blow to our COM
merce
8. It was in open violation of the terms of the
Republican platform of $780,
Mr. Dunnell of Minnesota said that if the
period of suspension was reduced to ten years
he thought he would vote for the BILL but as it
now stood it would leave national faint which
would do the country infinite damage.
Mr.. Ortiz of Ind.opposed the measure because
it violated the treaty, and because it made dis
ordinations founded upon race and color
The legislative day of Wednesday then clos
ed and that of Thursday was opened with
prayer by the Chaplain.
The morning hour having been dispensed
with the House at II. % resumed consideration
of the Chinese bill.
Messrs. Sherwin, Haseltine, Pacheco and
TowDshend supported the bill.
Mr. Robinson argued in support of certain
amendments he proposed to offer, the first OF
them being to strike out the 18th section, which
defines the meaning of the word 'slaborer" as
covering skilled and unskilled laborers. He
would also move to reduce the time of suspen-
| sion from 20 to ten years.
At 8 O'Clock the previous question was order
| ed on the bill and amendments which were
offered by various members.
Mr.. Page then took the floor for the closing
hour of debate, but yielded ten minutes to Mr..
Robinson, who concluded his argument
Mr.. Curtin said now Congress had come face
to face with the square, sunadulterated question
of labor One hundred thousand Chinese
laborers in California took the place OF one
hundred Thousand American laborers, and
now the question was presented to Congress IS
whether that state of facts should continue. 1t
was the right and duty of Congress to protect
American citizens against the introduction of
heather Chinese labor. The American gov
| eminent should set up for itself and say to all
| the world, "We shall say who shall come and
and M VIAL s NET io9me who shall become N'''
After brief speech by Mr.. Cannon in sup
| port of the bill Mr.. Page took the floor to
close the debate. He trusted the bill would
be passed without amendment. The gentle-
man from Iowa (Mr.. Kasson) came here and
under the cloak of his amendment he (Page)
saw the dagger of an assassin which won Id
stab the bill to death. He believed that the 70
was persistent determination on the part of
those who opposed the bill to force an amend
ment upon it which would destroy it. He
witnessed a scene the other day when he saw
one of the lobbyists of corporation walk in
and congratulate member who had de-
nounced this bill. The six Chinese companies
through their agents in this city swarmed in
every corridor of the capitol and had for weeks.
He knew two railroad corporations that had
united to defeat this BILL
Here he was called to order by Mr.. White.
who said that the words of the gentleman
were too far reaching. The gentleman has
ctata6 q continual that the OnDasiti0n tn
this measure comes from the reason he has
given and that / denounce as utterly false and
unworthy of statement by any gentleman,
Mr.. Page, continuing, made a last appeal to
the relief she asked for. He again asserted as
fact that there had been an agent of the six
companies here and had solicited members.
Here he was again met with cries OF Name
him. but he declined to do so and continuing
said he did not intend to intimate any member
had been improperly approached or controlled.
In conclusion he said, II turn to that grand
old party which for twenty years has fought
the battle of the down-trodden and oppressed.
L turn to that party with its grand and noble
Give us this bill and let us invite European
immigration. Do not confne us to Chinese
immigration.
The House then proceeded to vote upon the
amendments, the first being that offered by
Mr.. Kasson of Iowa, reducing the period OF
suspension to ten years. 1t was rejected yeas
100, nays, 131.
Mr.. Butterworth's amendment limiting the
term of suspension to 10 years was lost without
call of yeas and nays. Ig
A large number of amendments were then
voted upon but were lost without a division be-
ing called, and the bill was then pasSec-yeas
1877, Nays So. The following is the nay vote
Anderson, Barr, Bragg, Briggs, Browne, Buck,
Camp, Gambler, Carpenter, Chase, Grape, Cullen,
Dawes, Deering, DngIey, Dunnell, Dwight, Farwell
of Ia Grant Hall Hammond of N. Y Harden
bergh, Harris of Mass, Haskell, Hawk, Henderson,
Hepburn, Hooker, Humphrey, Jacobs, Jones OF
y. J., Joyce, Kasson, Ketchum, Lord, MeCoid,
OF Ohio, Rice of Mass, Richardson of N. Y, Ritchie
Robinson of Mass, RUSSELL Reagan Shuttle, Skin
Tyler, Updegratf of la, Urner, Wadsworth, Wait,
Walker. Ward, Watson, White, and Williams of
Wis.,-65.