The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-21
Views of Legislators on the Chinese Question,
Civil Service, Education, the Tariff and Rev.
enue Systems. and an Election Law.
How Government Band Is Expected to
Assist in Allaying Sectional Feeling.
Ex-Secretary Bayard's Return to the Senate to
Be Vigorously Opposed by Gray and His
Friends-War Records Of Army Officers.
WHAT CONGRESS WILL DO.
Important Measures Which Will Be Discuss
at the Approaching Session.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20-"It is our purpose
to do everything possible to bring about
more friendly relations between the United
States and the Celestial Empire. but do
not pretend to say any degree of success will
follow the effort. as there is so much preju-
dice against our people by Americans
says the private secretary to the new Chi
nese minister here. ''rho work of Ameri-
can missionaries in China, he says, further,
sis effective, and they are treated well, and
reports to the contrary are untrue. Your
missionaries have made a great many con-
verts in China, There is no reason
why our strained relations with the
United States should be continued,
and hope they may be relieved. How
ever. see very little hope just now"
Talks with half dozen or more ex-
perlenced and well-known men in Con-
gress do not disclose the least sentiment In
favor of giving the Chinese any more lati-
tude than is now extended for their imml-
grafton to this country. Not only will the
present laws be maintained, but there is
little, if any, doubt that a Gordon of mount
ed police will be established on the North
western frontier to keep Mongolians from
coming overland into the Northwest.
To questions prOpOunded to one Senator
ard six members of the House on the
Chinese and other questions; and as to
what, i'll their opinion, would be done In
the way of legislation at the approaching
session of Congress, they said:
Senator Dolph, of Oregon (Republican)
-"Congress having taken action In the
matter of immigration of Chines8labOrers,
and whatever injustice may have been
done citizens of China, holding return
certificates, [ think no attempt will be
made to remove it by repeal or modiiica-
my coast-defense bill, and believe it will
bring about some kind of legislation. We
must adopt a general plan for de-
Tending our coasts, and think
Congress is now ready Tor 1t.
The interstate commerce and civll-service
laws will be amended. but neither will be
repealed. Senator Blair will bring forward
his educational bill again. but one cannot
foretell the action on 1t In the House. The
management of the Pension Office Will be
pledges. and revise the tariff"
Representative Brown, OF Indiana, IRE
publican)-I was one of the very few who
voted against the bill e4Snding Chinese
of excluding the Chinese The United
States should 60 further, and cut off all re-
lations with the Chinese Empire The
with any fairness. The Chinese have been
used UNANIMOUSLY by the American people,
and the government has permitted such
action to 90 on. The Chinaman is indus
trious. lawabiding and good citizen, he
is never pauper, never strikes or violates
his agreement, never an Anarchist and
never engages in riot. He does not be-
come politician. and run ward politics.
He smokes opium, but that Is no worse
is not for this country. lie is not homo
geneous, however. We do not want him,
and he should be kept away. At the same
time our country should not be hypocritical
toward China. 1t ought to cut off all rela-
tiOns.
II do not favor the abolition of the
present Civil-service Commission unless
something can be substituted for it, which
is better, and l think great many diff
culties are in the way of Such substitu-
tion. But why not proportion the Offices
Outamong the Representatives in Congress-
and when vacancies occur notify them, as
is done in the case of appointments to An
napolis and West Point.
THE first thing to be done by Congress,
/! in my opinion, is to revise the revenue sys-
| tenn. The revenues from that source need
only be reduced by the repeal of the tax
on tobacco and snuff. and the tax on al
cohol used in the arts. which, together
with a reduction of the tax on sugar. SIM
| liar to that proposed by the Mills bill,
| / think would be adequate for all the pur-
| poses of the government. l think this
| might be done under a motion to suspend
| the rules.
The Congress of the United States un-
doubtedly has power to supervise congress
sional elections They are thoroughly ma
| tional, and, perhaps, the only national
election known to the Constitution. The
| question as To what shall be done in this
| connection is full of difficulties. The laws
have to be enforced by State tribunals, and
the witnesses, and everybody else con-
4 nd ha faI- 4x,<
of the community which is in SYM
| pathy with the violation of the law,
and it will be almost utterly impossible
to secure a conviction for that reason. A
statute cannot be enforced when il is OBJ
noxious to public opinion: But the United
| States government should do everything ii
can under the Constitution to enforce the
law to secure to the colored man the actual
right to vote. and if that cannot be done,
| Congress should deprive the States in
| which they reside of representation in Con-
greSs to an extent based upon the number
OF colored men thus debarred from their
| rights as citizens"
Representative Hill. of Illinois Rep.)-
Something may be done towards enfarg-
ing the coinage of silver. The interstate.
commerce law will likely be amended and
the race question will come up in connec-
tiOn with the proposition of the federal
| government assuming control of the elec-
tions We will try to revise the tariff The
poor planter gets the credit for all the op.
position to the sugar tax, but, as a matter
| of fact, he is very uninfiuential factor
The real influence brought to bear is that
| of the capitalists interested in the hundred
millions of dollars worth of sugar
imported every year for refining pur
| poses. There would be no difficulty in
effecting proper adjustment of the tariff
If it were not for the fact that the Southern
Democrats, who are so ready TO make re-
ductions on all other kinds of goods, brins
a solid objection when sugar-cane is men
| toned"
Representative Owens. of Ohio. tDem.,-
There Will be an effort to legislate for the
control of congressional elections. but. a:
the purpose of this movement is transpa
rent, no such partisan legislation can be
come law. Any attempt on the part of the
Republicans TO increase their slender ma
lority by throwing out Democratic mem
bers will be resisted. and believe the mi
nority will be found quite as powerful Il
resist as the majority will DO to enact OBJ
uoxious laws"
Representative Cultivate, of Ohio. Dem.
AN attempt will be made TO pass a genera
election law. and. so far as l can iudge. tn,
law desired by the majority will be of :
partisan character. The Republicans viii
not attempt to revise the rules of the Hous,
IN an obnoxious way. or so as to depriy,
the minority of its rights, for no othe
reason than that their majority is SO smal
they can do nothing with the rules wifhou
the consent of the minority. The maiorit,
VIII attempt to revise the tariff, but thej