Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-10-21
THE CHINESE BILL.
synopsis of the Debate In the National
House of Representatives.

| On the 1lth Mr.. McCreary tdem., Nv.), author
of the proposed amendment to the Geary Chi
nese exclusion bill, explained that the pending
measure provided that the act of May 5, 1892,
| be so amended as to extend the time six months
| in which Chinese persons may register and OBJ
| tain certificates of residence and also
| amended said act so as to re-
| quire "one credible witness other than
, Chinese" that an applicant for certih-
| cate was resident OF the United States on the
| 9th of May 1892 instead OF 'one credible white
| witness" The bill also amended the act by
| providing that the word 'laborer' or 'laborers'
shall be construed to mean both skilled and un-
skilled manual lnborers, including Chinese EN-.
| ployed in mining fishing, huckstering ped
J ding, laundrymen or those engaged in TAX.
| ing, drying otherwise preserving
| shell or other fish for home consumption or
! expectation. 1t seemed just and fair that the
Chinese should have additional time in which
| 10 register and obtain certificates OF residence
| II all the Chinese persons who were not now
registered should be transported TO China the
cost to the government would be about IA
| 100000
Mr.. Geary Cdem, COLI, in opposing the bill,
said il he believed that through the operation
of this bill If enacted into law the Chinese
would comply with the law he would vote for
the measure. But he did not so believe He
| wanted to act in accordance with civilization,
| Christianity and morality. He wanted TO eX-
clude Chinese from coming here, but no addi.
tional burdens should be imposed upon those
| already here. He denied that the
| bin which bore his name was any
violation Of treaty stipulatious With
in the last thirty years l50),OOo00O had been
taken from the Pacific coast 10 foreign
| lands Gentlemen from the east expressed
| their wonder that the people of California did
not like the Chinese How would they
| like foreign colony located in their region?
| He then went on to denounee the compe-
| tion Of the cheap Chinese labor with
| free American labor He ridicued the state
nent that it would take az, 900 OOC to deport the
| unregistered Chinese, 1t would not, he de-
clared. involve an expenditure of $1,000 900. and
he criticised the action OF the admins tration in
| not enforcing the laws He was democrat
and loved the democratic party. but If that par
ty permitted the men OF its selection TO violate
the laws it had no right to ask for a continuance
| OF public confidence.
| On the 18th Mr.. Hit (rep, NJ, spoke in IA
| vor of the bill He denounced the Geary law.
Ii o violation OF the public faith, but it was
| a law, and IL was the duty of congress to make
| ii as light upon the victims as possible II car
ried out II would be strange II 1t did not cause
| rupture with China Mr. Bitt admitted that
| Chinese coolie labor was great evil, but the
way to stopit was by international agreement
| Mr.. Loud rep, CALI described the evils OF
| the Chinese invasion of the Pacific coast He
| criticised the administration for not enforcing
/ the law. He claimed that the executive power
/ was tiJluN " OstIhht lht ltSlSIhAlNc power.
| Mr.. Hooker (dem Miss) spoke in favor of
| the bill '
Mr.. Bartlett dem. n. W opposed the bill
| He said there would follow the enactment of
| this law many cases to test the McCreary
amendment as there We're cases to contest the
constitutionality of the Geary law. The under.
| lying object OF this legislation was to allow the
! Six Companies to try the again and have
| q majority of the supreme court turned into a
minority. He closed with a criticism of the
| Six Companies for preventing Cinnamon from
| registering.
| On the 18th Mr.. Rayuer dem, Md said the
| passage of the pending McCreary bill was an
| act of self evident justice, one that should COM
mend itself to every member OF the house. IF
we are going to exercise natural justice in this
| country" he said, "lf we are going to maintain
| human rights we must pass this bill" In re-
| ply to questions by Mr.. Ray rep, n. W he
| said the admins tration had rightfully done
| nothing to enforce the present law, because OF
want of the necessary funds and be
| cause, after the law had been pro-
| nounced constitutional by the supreme
court, there was Likelihood OF its being
| amended by the present congress. In reply 10
a further interruption criticsing the president
for failure to enforce the ting law Mr.. Ray.
ner said: THE president has done his duty in
accordance with the dictates OF his own con
science He is no weak uncertain thing, yield
| ing to every wind of public opinion. He does
not believe in bartering away any OF the princi-
pies upon which he was swept inc office by an
overwhelming verdict"
Mr.. Sckles dem, " made a brief speech
in favor of the pending bill
Mr. Bowers rep, CALI warned the democrats
and republicans that If this McCreary bill was
| passed there would not be enough of either
party left in California to make grease spot
that could be seen with the naked eye. Asked
to explain what would become of them he said
the populists would receive an astonishing in
crease in the state.
Messrs. Draper and Morse (reps Mass.) IA
vored the pending bill.
Mr.. Mcguire (dem Cali opposed the bill. He
defended the Geary law as reasonable, easy
and convenient requirement wholly within the
bounds of the constitution