The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-05-04
xLVIIth CONGRESS.
[rIRsr SESSION.
SENATE


A number of bills were introduced and re-
ferred; after which the Mississippi River I'M
proyement bill was discussed without action,
and, after an executive session, the Senate ad-
journed.
THE Senate resumed consideration of the
Mississippi River Improvement bill appropriate
ing GO, ,00O, 600. ALI 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were withdrawn and the bill passed by uiud
Uoce 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 Ga and 15), were agreed to
as read. Upon resching the amendment strik-
ing out the 14th section, which prohibits any
State or United States Court from admitting
Chinese to citizeuship. 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
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 %, nays IS. The vote was a
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
said he would remind the Massachusetts, Sena-
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
IA
his unconditional hostility to the measure. Mr..
Edmunds moved an amendment defining the
words 90 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-
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 COMMITTEES
of the Whole, striking out the 10Th section
which defines the words "Chinese laborers " tx
mean both skilled and unskilled laborers
Without action the bill went over.
Consideration of the anti Chinese bill was re
sumed, the question being upon concurring ii
the. amendment striking out the 18th section
which construes the words Chinese laborers
to mean skill and unskilled laborers. On
vote the-section was retained-yeas 20, nays Is
After rejecting several amendments, the bil
passed-veas 50, nays Is. The following is th
vote: Yeas.-Beck, Butler, Call, Camero
(Wis.), Chilcott, Coke, Davis Ill.), Fair, Far
| ley, Garland, George, Grover, Hale, Hampton
Harris Col. J, Johnston, Jones. Jones lNey.,
Maxey, Milior (Col.), Miller (N. y Morgan
Pendieton. Pugh, Saunders, Slater, Yance
Van Wyck, Vest, Walker, Williams-S2. Nays
Allison, Blair, Conger, Dawes, Edmundl
Frye, Harrison, Hawley, Hoar, ingalls,, Lar
ham. Mcmillan, Morrill,, Platt, Sherman-15.