The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-04
FoRTr.EfGHTH CONGRESS.
Hama. az Representative.


On motion Of Mr.. Morrison the order
for evening session tonight was vacated.
The House. on motion OF Mr.. Lamb. OF
Indiana, at 1I.15 O'Clock went into Com
mittee OF the Whole (Mr. Cox, OF New
York. In the cbair.) on the bill amending
the Chinese immigration act.
Mr.. Henley. OF California, spoke in sup
port OF the bill, which he said was the
Joint product OF the delegations from Cali
fornia, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and
Washington Territories. Never had q
measure received an endorsement more
nearly unanimous or more profound in It's
earnestness than had this bill received from
the people OF the Pacific coast. While il
might he assaiIed on the ground that IN
some way It was hostile to the doctrine OF
the universal fatherhood Of God and the
brotherhood Cs man-while II might be
criticised by those who had not studied its
subject matter-there was this fact con-
nected with il: That the people inhabiting
tract Of country sufficient for an empire
came with practical unanlmity and de-
handed the enactment OF this measure.
Mr.. George, OF Oregon, supported Mr..
Henley in advocacy of the blu.
Mr.. Rice, OF Massachusetts,, opposed the
bill. IL was asserted that the measure was
in the interest OF labor. that it was demand
ed by 100000 suffering citizens on the
Pacific coast, and that unless it were passed
Chinese invasion would be complete. He
maintained that IL was not demanded by
the inhabitants Of the Pacific coast. He
undertook to say it added no single barrier
whatsoever to the incoming OF the Chinese.
1t was only clap-trap and surplusage from
beginning to end. The original act had
done its work, and anything further was
unnecessary. SInce its passage up to jan
uary 18th last 1000 Chinese had departed
from our shores for their homes, and only
3,415 had returned.
Me>srs. Cassidy, FULLY, Brents, Eaton,
and King spoke in favor OF the bill, and
Messrs. Hit, LYMAN, Poland. browne Of
Indiana, and Skinner against it,
Mr.. Guenther expressed his willingness to
welcome to these shores everybody who
came to escape from oppression, but not
those whose presence tended TO degrade
American labor.
The bill was then read by sections for
amendments, and Mr.. Rice, OF Massachu-
sets, offered several amendments, which
were voted down.
Mr. Brumm, OF Pennsylvania. offered an
amendment, applying the provisions OF this
bill as far as practicable to persons, from
whatever nation, who were imported to
this country under any system OF contract.
Ruled out on point OF order.
On motion OF Mr.. Hammond, OF GeOr-
gia, an additional section was agreed to,
providing that nothing herein contained
shall be construed to affect any prosecu-
tons or other proceedings, civil or crimi-
nal, begun under the act OF which this is
amendatory.
MIR. Rice moved to amend the title so as
to read "Au act to violate our treaty stip-
ulations with China and other nations"
Lost.
The committee then rose, and the bill
was passed-yeas, 1874; nays, Is.
The negative vote was cast by Messrs.
Adam OF Illinois, Brewer OF New York,
Browne OF Indiana, Eyerhart, Henderson
OF Illinois, Hit. Kean, Lyman. Price, Rice,
skinner OF New York, Smalls, and
Spooner.
The Speaker laid before the House Il
message from the President, recommend
ing the appropriation OF S22,500 to meet
the proper obligations OF the Government
for the courteous services OF the umpires
Of the Spanish American Claims Commits
sion. Referred
The House then, at G O'Clock, adjourned.