The morning call., 1892-04-07
Eile Present Act Continues in Force
Two Years More.
REPORT OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
Coolies Cannot Come Until July 5, lS9i-IieWs Of
Leading COngreSsnen on the lmPOr-
tant Subject.
Special 10 THE MORNING CALI.

WASHINGTON, April 6. - The Chinese
question is at present absorbing the atten-
ton OF the California members OF Congress.
1t is the general opinion that the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate will not
act on Geary's bill in a hurry. Senator
Sherman Of Ohio, the chairman OF the COM
mittee Is hostile TO the summary legislation
against the Chinese, and others OF that COM
mItee feel somewhat aggrieved because the
House OF Representatives ignored the Senate
bill passed five weeks ago extending the
existing Chinese immigration laws for 10
years further. This bill now slumbers in
the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the
House, TO which IL was referred when it
came from the Senate. Geary's bill having
passed the House, the latter body will cer-
tsinly not pass the Senate bill until they
ascertain that the Senate will not act favor
ably upon Geary's measure. may be late in
the session before 1t Is determined definitely
what action the Senate Will take. and some are
fearful that there will be lapse and the
Chinese will take advantage of this tenn
poraTy break in the wall to pour into this
country by thousands. The common inn
preston Is that the Scott act, passed May q,
1882. Will expire on the 9Th Of next month.
This appears to be a mistake. 1t will not
expire until July 9, 1894, because the
July 8. 1884. Scott act was amended
by this provision: Be it eCacted, etc,
that section l Of the act entitled AN act,
etc" (Scott law, approved en- May 6. 1882.
be and Is hereby amended so as 10 read as
follows: From and after the passage of this
act and until the expiration OF 10 years next
after the passage Of this act the coming OF
Chinese labOrerS to the United States will be
and the same Is hereby suspended, and it
shall not be lawful for any Chinese laborer
TO come from any foreign port or place. or
having so come 10 remain IN the United
States" In order 10 confirm the opinion
inat the present laws on the subject do not
correspondent asked several OF tie Pacific
Coast Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress to-day whether they put the same in
teTpTetatiOn on the amendment of 1854
A New Point Raised.
The point raised was new to ali of them,
with the exception of Senator Mitchell of
Oregon. who said: Yes, you are quite
right; there is popular misapprehenSiOn
as TO when the present Chinese laws expire.
The last session of Congress resolution
was passed by the Senate authorizing an
investigation of this same matter. | was
appointed on that committee and prepared
the report which declared the opinion that
the present anti-Chinese laws do not expire
until July 3, 1894"
When Senator Felton's attention was
called 10 this matter be said " II is new
point TO me and a very important one. 1t
is my opinion from cursory examination Of
the statute on the subject that the existing
laws do not expire for over two years yet.
Although there seems little prospect of an
absolute exclusion bill passing the Senate
at this time, il Will at least be gratifying t0
know that there will be no lapse in the ex-
clusion Of Chinese laborers, who would un-
doubtedly take advantage of il to come
through Pacific ports In great numbers"