Omaha daily bee., 1888-08-19
FIFTIETR CONGRESS.
House.

nOu8t.
WASHINGTON, August 1s.-In the house
the committee of foreign affairs reported for
immediate consideration the senate bill TO
prevent the coming Of Chinese laborers into
the United States, with an amendment re-
peaing the acts Of May 6, 1889, and July
s. 1884, the repeal to take effect on the ratifi
cation OF the pending treaty.
MIR. McCreary stated that owing TO the
fact that the senate had amended the treaty,
it had to be returned to China for ratification
by that government, and that IL would be
probably the first Of next year before the
treaty could be agreed upon. The object of
the bill, he said, was to carry out the provis-
ions Of the treaty as soon as ratified by both
countries.
Mr. O'Neill Of Missouri said that every
two years congress passed a Chinese bill as
an incident of the political campaign. In
California the people seemed to want them.
The laboring people did not want them, but
the better class of people in California did.
Mr.. FELTON, interrupted to say that the
Californians were Obliged to employ Chinese
labor because they had no other.
Mr.. O'Neill replied that they should adver
tise in the east. where there were great num-
bers of unemployed laborers. Convict labor
was absorbing all the great trades.
Mr.. Yost of Virginia asked who was re-
sponsible for the failure to take up the con-
vict labor bill.
Mr.. O'Neill replied that the gentleman
from Iowa Nyman) had objected on the last
occasion
Mr.. Lyman denied that he had objected to
the labor bill. He had merely insisted on
having day set for considering the bill.
Mr.. Bynum Of Indiana said that the re-
publican party had favored opening the doors
cheap goods. He said that the
republican candidate for the presi-
dency, whilo, in the senate had voted
in favor of every amendment which
nj, hto ttnn h.,
| On the other hand, Thurman had declared
| himself in the senate as in favor of a restric-
| ton of Chinese immigration. He hoped that
| the bill would pass with the proposed amend
ment. The democrats could give it their
| earnest support without stultifyng their
records.
Mr.. Dingley, of Maine, inquired how it was
that the democratic party had not acted upon
| the question of Chinese immigration when it
had control of both houses during the Twen-
| ty-sixth congress.
( Mr.. Bynum replied that the question had
! not been brought up by any representative of
| the Pacific coast during that congress-
| Mr.. Dingey replied that Mr.. Page, Of Cal
| fornia, had introduced a bill, but it had never
| been acted upon by the house or senate.
| Mr.. Bynum-"The veto of the president of
the republican party had killed legislation up
| to that time" a
facts would not admit of the Chinese ques-
| tion being made party question. The peo,
| pie of the Pacific coast, regardless of party,
| opposed the incoming OF Chinese.
Mr.. Owen Of Indiana replied to what he
| characterized as an especial address to the
| voters OF Indiana made by his colleague and
| denied the charges made as to the record OF
the republican party and its standard bearer
| upon the Chinese question. In regard to the
| charge that Harrison had read before lit.
| erary society paper in which he advocated
| free and unrestricted immigration of the
Chinese, he said that General Harrison, over
his own signature, had denied having done
any such thing The gentleman's speech
thought that the republican party was in
favor Of importing Chinese and pauper labor
because it was cheap. The party that had
built up the protective system in this country
until the wage workers in in the land were the
| best paid, best fed, and the best housed and
| most intelligent and prosperous Of any wage
workers in the world, was not the party in
favor of the importation of Chinese
or other pauper labor. The gen
rison had voted against every bill
to restrict Chinese immigration. He denied
that charge. General Harrison had opposed
the Chinese bill, but the basis of his opposi
ton had been that it was in violation of treaty
obligations. While General Harrison haC
taken that position, and stood by it manfully
he had not indicated by any act or word thai
he was in favor Of Chinese immigration
General Harrison had said that he stood fol
| the honor OF his government and that the
| treaty should be enforced in letter and spirit
until by proper action it should be abrogated
In that position General Harrison had showr
himself so broad in his craftsmanship, so true
to American interests, so straightforwarc
and consistent in his course, that when, al
Chicago, people of the Pacific coast could moi
get their first choice-that grandest leader o.
America, James G. Blaine-they gave theil
| votes solidly to Benjamin Harrison and sale
| that his record was suuarely for the interest!
| of America on the Chinese question. Tht
| whole character of Benjamin Harrison was
| in favor of that which was called instinctivell
| the American idea.
! journed.