The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-22
IN THE SENATE.
Sherman Opposes the Chinese Exclusion
Bill, as Does Huntington.

WASHINGTON CRY. April 2l.-The SEN
ste this morning took up bills on the cal
sndar, and passed the measure to estaD-
Ish military post near Helena, Mont,
4 appropriating 100000.
~ After the calendar was disposed of the
/ Rouse bill prohibiting the coming of Chi
nese persons into the United States was
taken up for consideration, and Chandler
moved an amendment making the terms
Of exclusion fifteen instead 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 practical legisla-
ton on the subject secured without delay.
FELTON, of California agreed with Dolph as
70 the necessity of legislation on the SUBJ
fct, and thought it better that there
should be legislation to exclude Chinese.
he would remain silent but for the fact
that he represented constituency that
had suffered from the evil for a third of a
century. 1t was a moral, social and
economic question. Fenton's speech was
composed largely of an Indictment against
the Chinese race, which he said had a
sovereign contempt for Western civiliza-
ton and religion. He objected to the ex-
listing law because it had no practical eff
feet.
Sherman opposed the House bill. When
\ the bill went before the committee on for
eign relations, said he, it had been deemed
best instead of passing a severe law, to
postpone action on it and provide for the
continuance for ten years of the present
regulations restricting Chinese immigra-
ton. The opinion of the committee on
foreign relations was that the present re-
strictions would not expire until 1894 He
advised that the Senate should agree to an
amendment extending the present legisla-
ton ten years and let the bill go to a
conference committee, where the matter
might be fully considered. The House
bill, Sherman added. was against the
spirit of American civilization, contrary
to all ideas that had been taught as to the
rights that belong to every man of every
rare and cline, and unchristian.
Frye read telegram from c. p. Hunt
ington, of San Francisco, telling the
!, effects the passage of the Geary bill would
have on both Chinese and Americans. He
said the Chinese had paid over $4,000 for
transportation alone since 1888 to Ameri-
can transportation companies. and should
to foreign companies. Hundreds of
wealthy Chinese merchants had gone to
+. China under faith in the existing laws.
. The Geary bill would debar them from re-
turning, and would virtually confiscate
property amounting to hundreds of thou
sands of dollars. II trust the good sense
OF the American people and their 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
bill, he said, would break off all diploma
tic relations between the United States
and China. What then would become of
American commerce? The United States
depended on China for tea, and the COM
merce with China amounted to several
millions per year Sherman denounced
the bill as a violation 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 adjourned.
Nomination: Nathan Q. Murphy, of
Arizona, to be governor I'll Arizona.