Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-04
A|nonl-E John.
The House Proposes to Shut
Him Out Absolutely.
QUICK WORK ON A CHINESE BILL.

One That Will Catch Him Coming or Go
ing-Some Objection Met in the Senate,
which Debates 1t and Takes No Action
Lively Discussion of a Partisan Charac-
ter Between Vest and PIumb-An Enter
prising Canadian's Little Scheme.
WASHINGTON CITY, Sept 4--When the
bill to prohibit the entrance into the United
States of Chinese laborers, passed by the
house yesterday, reached the senate later in
the day, it was Immediately taken up for
consideration the bill for the admission to
statehood Of Washington territory being laid
aside, and long debate ensued.
George said that the bill might possibly be
unjust in excluding Chinese immigrants
holding certificates, who might now be within
sight of the shores of the United States. He
thought the time should be extended so as
not to exclude those who were On their way,
and who were entitled to admission. He
moved the reference of the bill to commit
tee, but said he would withdraw his motion
in view Of the opposition to it by SO many
senator's
Sherman, having given history of the re-
Gently negotiated treaty. said that it had
been the general desire of the committee on
foreign relations to have the Chinese gov
eminent assent by treaty to the absolute
exclusion of the Chinese The committee
preferred to have it done in that way, rather
than by direct act of congress not in har-
mony with the treaty. After pleasant con-
renee with the secretary of state the treaty
had been ratified by the senate, with amend
ments to make it clear, and which amend
ments, it was supposed, the Chinese minis
ter would have agreed TO. He supposed,
from what the newspapers said, that the re-
lection of the treaty by the Chinese govern
ment was connected with the Australian
complication. He therefore hoped the bill
would pass but this was with the distinct I'M
Outstanding that the house had passed it
with the knowledge that the new treaty had
been rejected by the Chinese government. Ii
that should prove otherwise the fault would
not be that of the senate
In reply to a question from Butler, Sher-
man said he thought the bill was inconsistent
with the treaty; but as the Chinese govern
ment declines to make the proposed changes
we have the unquestioned right to pass the
bill
Butler continued to cross question Sher-
man. asking him if the bill was a violation of
the treaty, Sherman replying that it was
an ahrogation or substantial change
Butler said it seemed TO him that this whole
Chinese business had been a matter of polit-
ical advantage. One house of congress passes
bill to drive these poor devils OF Cinnamon
into the Pacific ocean, and the other house
comes up and says: Yes, we will drive them
still farther irto the Pacific ocean, notwith-
standing the treaty between the two govern
ments" He said he would vote for the bill,
but that he was very sorry to be informed
by the senator from Ohio that it was an
abrogation of the treaty.
Discussion followed between Mitchell and
Butler, in which Butler said be stood behind
the senator from Ohio in his position on the
bill aft he leads me astray,n he continued
Ahe will be held responsible and not l. The
bill is an open, fragrant violation of treaty
between this government and government
with which it is on terms of peace and good
will The Republican senate proposes to see
the house play and go one better The plain
English is that it is violation OF treaty.
You can not dodge it"
Mitchell argued that congress had as much
power TO repeal 8 treaty as it had to repeal a
law. The supreme court had so held over
and over again. Gray deprecated the action
of the senate in putting unnecessary amend
ments on a treaty which would have fully
accomplished the purpose of the pending bill
George argued at length to prove that the
Republicans were responsible for the Bur-
lingame treaty, and for the rejection of the
various measures to restrict Chinese immi-
grafton. Mitchell said that George was as
serting his own ignorance of what he was
talking about The door had been opened TO
Chinese immigration by the Democratic
party of California