Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-22
THE NATIONS LAWMAKERS.
Chinese Exclusion Discussed in
the Senate.
FELTON, Eloquently Champions the
Geary Bill.
Sherman Opposes the Measure-C. T.
Huntington Sends a Telegram Pro-
testing Against the Passage
of the Bill.

Associated Press Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, April 21.-Among the
bills passed by the senate today, was
one creating military post at Helena,
Mont, and appropriating 100000
therefor.
The house bill prohibiting the con.
veying of Chinese persons into the
United States was taken up for consid-
Grafton.
Chandler moved an amendment MAX
ing the term of exclusion fifteen, in
stead of ten years.
Dolph of Oregon said he disagreed
with Sherman in the opinion that the
existing exclusion act would not expire
till 1894. and desired to have some prac-
tical legislation on the subject. FELTON,
thought it better that there should be
legislation to exclude the Chinese. He
would have remained silent but for the
fact that he represented in part con-
stituency that had suffered from the
evil for a third of a century. It was a
moral, social and economic question.
Felton's speech was composed largely
of an indictment against the Chinese
race, which, he said, had a sovereign
contempt for Western civilization and
religion. He objected to the existing
law because it had no practical effect.
Sherman said he was opposed to the
house bill. When the bill went before
the committee on foreign relations, said
he, it had been deemed best, instead of
passing a severe law, to postpone action
on it and provide for a continuance for
kov Cf tho loks
stricting Chinese emigration. The opin-
was that the present restrictions would
not expire till '94. He advised the
senate to agree to an amendment ex-
tending the present legislation for ten
years and let the bill 60 to conference
committee, where the matter might be
fully considered. The house bill, Sher-
man added, was against the spirit of
American civilization, contrary to all
ideas that had been taught as to the
rights belonging to everv man OF every
race and cline, and unchristian.
Frye read telegram from G. P.
Huntington of San Francisco, telling
the effects the passage of the Geary bill
would have on both Chinese and Amer
leans. He said the Chinese paid over
pc3cOO,oOO 1oi tAoAcpOl dlOhO SlACO
1888 to American transportation COM
panies. Hundreds OF wealthy Chinese
merchants had gone to China under the
faith of the existing laws; the Geary
bill would debar them from returning,
and virtually confscate their property,
amounting to hundreds of thousands of
dollars: 81 trust the good business
sense of the American people, and the
love of fair play and justice, will find
expression in congress sufficiently
strong to defeat this BILL" Thus Mr..
Huntington closed his telegram.
Sherman then resumed his argument
against the bill. The passage of such q
bill, he said. would break off all diplo-
matte relations between the United
States and China. What then would
become of American commerce? The
United States depended on China for
tea, and its commerce with China
amounted to several millions a year.
Sherman denounced the bill as viola
tion OF the treaty with China, and said
any nation violating treaty unduly
and without cause, would be regarded
as acting against the civilization of the
world.
After further debate the senate ad.
iourned.