Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-22
Chinese EXCLUSION.
The Senate Gives a Day to the Bill
Reported from the House.
SENATOR SHERMAN OPPOSES IT
As Being an Unchristian Measure and One that Would
Iniure American COmmerce-A Telegram from
G.P. Huntington on the Subect-Sev-
eral Schemes Proposed in lis Stead.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 2l.-ln the
Senate the House bill to prohibit absolute
lv the coming of Chinese persons into the
United States, was taken up for consider
alton.
MIR. Chancellor moved to amend it by
making the term of exclusion fifteen years
instead of ten years. Mr.. Dolph said he
disagreed with Mr. Sherman who had ex-
pressed the opinion yesterday that the eX-
isting exclusion act would not expire I'LL
1894. He quoted certain provisions OF the
act OF 1884 (amendatory OF the act OF 1851
and urged that his construction OF the law
was the correct one, and not Mr.. Sher-
mans construction Of 1t.
mr. Dolph expressed his anxiety to have
some practical legislation secured without
delay. If the House wanted some more
stringent measure of Chinese exclusion,
it could put an amendment on the Senate
bill and let the matter go TO conference.
MIR. FELTON, said that he was in accord with
the Senator frem Oregon as to the necessl-
ty of some legislation on the SUBJECT.
MIR. Sherman opposed the House bill.
When the bill went before the Commlttee
on Foreign Relations it had been 1alrly
considered, and it had been deemed best,
on the whole, instead Of passing that
severe law, TO postpone action upon 1T and
TO provide for the continuance for ten years
of the present regulations restricting
Chinese immigration.
His own opinion and advice was that the
Senate should agree TO an amendment ex-
tending the present legislation for tea years
and let the bill as thus amended go TO con-
ference committee, where the matter might
be fully considered, and il additional legfs-
lation should be deemed necessary, IT could
be recommended by the conference COM
mittee and brought before the two houses
for approval or disapproval.
The House bill, Mr.. Sherman added,
was against the spirit of American civill-
zation. contrary to all the ideas that had
been taught as to the rights belonging 10
every man Of every race and cline, and un-
Christian.
A telegram was read by Mr.. Frye from
G. =. Huntington, dated San Francisco
April To- in which he said:
''Since my arrival here | have learned
what effect the passage of the Geary bill
would have on both Chinese and Amerl-
cans. Thousands of Chinese in transit
across the United States, landing at ports
under regulations made by the Secretary
of the Treasury in January, 1883, have PAID
American transportation companies since
the restriction act over 1000 for trans
portation alone. Should that bill become a
law. this traffic would 90 to foreign coun-
tries via. Canada and Panama.
Since the passage of the restriction act
the custom house records show 81, 600 more
departures than arrivals at this port Hun
dreds of wenlthy Chinese merchants repre-
senting firms here, have gone TO China and
other countries on business under faith Of
existing laws, having property interests
here valued at hundreds OF thousands OF
dollars. The Geary bill would debar them
from returning and virtually confiscate
their property.
II trust that the good business sense OF
the American people and love OF fair play
and Justice, will hnd expression in Con-
gress sufficiently strong to defeat this
bill"
Mr.. Sherman resumed his argument IN
opposition TO the bill. 1t admitted, he said,
Chinese persons who were duly accredited
to the United States government but what,
he asked, would Chinese diplomats come
to the United States for if all other Chinese
people were to be excluded. The passage
of such bill, he said, would be sure to
break of all diplomatic relations between
the United States and China. What then,
ne asked would become of American COM
merce. Inclosing, MIR. Sherman denounced
the bill as a violation of the treaty with
China, and said that any nation which vio-
lated a treaty unduly and without cause
would be regarded as acting against the
civilization of the world.
After further debate the Senate ad-
iolirnPd