The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-09-07
WAITING FOR NEWS
Sherman Thinks the Chinese
Treaty not Rejected.
THE SENATE DELAYS ACTION.
Mitchell Thinks Political Dishsn-
esty and Moral Dishonesty Dis
tinet-ProsPeet of Speedy Vote
on the Retaliation Biii-who the
Prosecuted Nevada Miners Are.

among the bills reported from COM
mittees and placed on the calendar
was the following: Senate bin grant
ing the Oregon Railway & Sayigation
Company certain tract OF land on
the UA.ssaia reservation for station
purposes.
Hoar offered a resolution calling the
attention of the president respectfully
70 a resolution adopted by the senate
on the asth OF August. requesting him
to communicate to the senate copies
OF all communications addressed BY
his direction TO the government Of
Great Britain demonstrating against
certain unfair treatment of American
citizens, and requesting him TO furnish
such information as soon as possible,
in order that it may be considered in
acting on the pending legislation.
Laid over.
The senate bin for admission of the
state of Washington was laid aside and
the Chinese exclusion bill taken up.
Pugh sent 10 the clerks desk and
had read, in the absence of Hearst. 10
whom il was telegraphed, resolution
adopted last evening in a mass meet
ing in san Francisco, urging imme-
diate passage of the Chinese exclusion
bill.
Sherman said he thought the senate
should be willing 10 wait two or three
days to ascertain whether the ground
on which the bill rested really existed.
He did not wish the senate TO act in
the dark. on information which was
probably groundiess, or depart from
the usual orderly mode OF proceeding
on its apprehension of facts. No an
swer had been received to the resolu-
ton yesterday adopted, calling ON the
president for a statement, but an am
swer would undoubtedly come to-day
in the ordinary course III it should
appear, as he believed that il
would appear. that no informa-
ton had been received; that in
point of fact the Chinese minister was
now on his way from Peru, probably
with n ratification OF the treaty. at
any rate with some explanation about
it, and il the senate should hurriedly
pass the bill it would be a surprise to
the whole country and To the whole
civilized world. He had information
now from undouhted sources, not from
the president or secretary of state, that
the probability was that no such ac-
ton had been taken by the Chinese
government lie was informed the
Chinese legation had no information
on the subject, and the president had
none when the bill came over from the
house. He had assumed, as matter
of course, that the house had based il
on information that came from the
president. The senate had no informa-
ton about it. He thought the senate
bound by common courtesy due be-
tween nations, as between individuals,
to await the action of the Chinese
government on this subject. Ii the
bill were passed and the treaty were
ratified, the senate would have placed
itself in the ridiculous attitude OF
assuming an act that did not exist. II.
on the contrary. the treaty were re-
jected, there would be ample time to
pass the bill.
He asked that by unanimous con-
sent the bill might be informally laid
aside.
Stewart objected.
rlatt said he should vote for the bill,
but under protest. lie did not like
the way it came before congress. Why
such hot haste 10 override an act now
awaiting the presidents signature and
pass a bill which under the circum-
stances would be direct Insult to a
nation with which the United States
desired TO continue friendly CONNER
cial relations2 Was il a vote catching
performance? Had il come 90 this,
that high public office had been pros
tituted for Democratic electioneering
purposes? Ii not. what other reason
existed for thrusting the bill on the at
tention of congress in such an untimeiy
manner? II a vote was forced upon
the senate now be would vote for the
bill, because he was not going 10 act
on the assumption that the pending
bill was an electioneering dodge.
Morgan questioned the sincerity Of
the Pacific slope senators as to the ex
cluSiOn of Cinnamon, and remarked
that the sentiment for their exclusion
was far from universal.
The statement was challenged by
Mitchell, who said somewhat excitedly
that there was not one word OF truth
in it from beginning to end.
Morgan repeated that the pluiocracy
of the Pacific slope was in favor OF re-
tanning Chinese laborers.
Mitchell remarked that the question
bad been submitted to a vote OF the
people OF California a few years ago,
and he asked whether the senator
from Alabama would have the candor
and honor to state TO the senate the
result OF the vote
Morgan retOrted that the word
honesty" was a word which the sen
ator from Oregon ought not 10 use
with 50 much ilippancy. On the point
OF honesty he eMoFganD had as good a {
record as the senator from Oregon.
Mitchell explained that he meant (
political honesty"
Morgau--A politically dishonest I
man cannot lie trusted with my poek- 1
ethook. ! do not make such distiBc- (
ticn and never have made il.
Mitchell-The senator may make his /
own applications.
The debate being closed. the senate I
proceeded % vote on the passage Of ,
the bill. The vote was unanimous
yeas. 37 nays none
No quorum voting, there was a call .
OF the senate. and exactly a quorum I
answered.
Hoar said he had been p ..seut when I
the vote was taken Yesterday and to-
day. but had refraiuei from voting for I
the reasons stated by the senator ir0m
Ohio fisherman. sherman had ai-o (
his vote on both occasions.
III was agreed by unanimous consent 4
q. 4