Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-10
TIE SENATE PASSES TEE CBI&ESE
ELL

The Serate yesterday afternoon passed
the anti-Chinese bill, by vote of 90 to Is,
after mach longer debate than had been
anticipated. The arguments of the OPP
ponents OF the bill were not remarkable for
their depth or ecumen, while some really
strong speeches were made On the other
i,l7; .i Of Senator's Elmpnds-ap Miller
being conspicuous for their ability and
! force. Senator Bimunds, indeed, has ap.
peared to very great advantage on this
occasion, for il would have surprised none
had he taken The side espoused by Hoar.
HehOwever rose TO the occasion and showed
that his mind is broad enough to take in
a rev argument even when it runs counter
to all his presonceptions. The only modi-
fcation the bill has undergone in the SEN
ate consists in the posSponement of its
operation from sixty to ninety days after
its enactment. An unsuccessful attempt
was made TO reduce the period during
which Chinese immigration is TO be sus-
perded. from twenty to ten years. It is
not probable that the bill will encounter
any further serious opposition, but suppos-
ing that It passes safely through It's subse-
quent stages. and receives the Presidents
signature, it will be mistake to conclude
that the Chinese question is settled by it.
It cannot. indeed, be too plainly pointed
ont that measure of this kind must tend
to fix here ali the Chinese who are now in
the country, and that consequently the
situation az it exists when the bill becomes
law will be the situation for long time
to come. No one must look for sudden
dminuticn in the number Of the Chinese
on the Pacific coast. Knowing that they
cannot come back If they 80 to China, they
will prefer for the most part to remain
here. Only those will go to China who
have made up their minds to spend the
rest of their lives there. The Chinese at
present with US will remain with us. Our
only benefit will consist in the fact that
no more can come to swell their numbers.
That the Effects OF tie new law will disap-
point those who have failed to master its
provisions. we fully expect. They will
probably complain that after all this talk
and debate nothing practical has been ef-
fected. And so it will seem for time, ard
perhaps for quite long time. Whatever
pressure of competition exists to-day by
means of the pre-: nce Of Chinese labor,
will continue 60 exist. The Chinese,
indeed, may perhaps be led by greed to
iniure their own status. for they will be
strongly tempted TO raise their demands
when they know that they have no more
competition with their own country men
to apprehend. Blu. the improvement in
the general condition of the Pacific coast
labor market must be slow. and for time
almost imperceptiale. and this fact, when
it is realized. may produce discomfort. 1t
must be remembered. however, that our
representatives IN Congress have had an
uphill fight. and that for q long time it was
a doubtful matter whether they would be
able TO get any legislation at all. 90 the
principle therefore that half loaf is bet
ter than no bread. California ought to be
thankful il she can at least succeed in hay.
ing the door shut against further Chinese
immigration.