Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-13
THE EVERETT BILL.
An Important Conference at Secre-
tary Carlisle's House.
THE MEASURE DRAWN BY Mr.. QUINCEY
Mr.. Geary Will Oppose It in Its
Present F orm.
GIVEN TO A SUBCOMITTEE.

For three hours last night the residence
OF Secretary Carlisle was the scene Of a
conference between administration and
anti-administration men regarding the
policy Of the government toward the
Chinese as enunciated in the Everett
Chinese exclusion act introduced in the
House the other day. The efforts of this
conference were directed toward an ami
cable settlement Of the differences existing
between those who favor and those who
oppose the pending bill. but at its conclu-
sion nothing definite was reached.
There were present Secretaries Carlisle
and Gresham, Attorney General Olney, AS
sistant Secretary Hamlin and Mr.. Geary.
1t is said that the two Secretaries stated
that the President was very desirous of
having the Everett bill passed as speedily
as possible. and especially was he anx-
ious In regard to the matter in view Of the
recent protests Of the new minister from
China, protests which. were they to go un-
needed. might. it was said. cause an inter-
ton between the two governments for some
time to come.
Drawn by Mr.. Quincy.
The bill now before the House. although
1t has Mr.. Everett as its putative author. is
~
that the measure was drawn by Assistant
Secretary Quincy himself. after consulta-
ton with the President. It was broadly
hinted at this conference that Mr.. Cleveland
desired the bill put upon its passage in the
House at once and sent to the Senate for
action as soon as that result could possibly
be reached. The fact was recalled that
when the Supreme Court passed upon the
constitutionality Of the act last year It
rendered it's decision a majority court
by a margin so slim that II the case were
again presented on a different proposition
cision might be reversed. inasmuch as
Justice Harlan, who was then absent. would
be on the bench.
MIR. Geary's Opposition.
Mr.. Geary did not hesitate to say what
he thought about the proposed bill and in
language emphatic enough to be not mis-
understood said that in it's present form
the Everett bill would be antagonized at
every stage by every member OF Congress
from the Pacific slope. There were some
provisions in his original bill subsequently
emasculated by the House which, Mr..
Geary said. II they were put in this bill.
would make 1t a measure that could be
consistently supported by the members
from the territory where this question was.
perhaps, better understood and Of more
Importance than 1t was in the east
Mr.. .Geary insisted that a section should
be added providing for the photographing
OF every Chinaman when he enters this
country, and that the definition Of what
constituted a Chinese merchant should be
so plain and distinct that there could be no
ambiguity about 1t. He was also willing
that the imprisonment clause should be
eliminated from his former BILL and II these
things were agreed to there would be no OBJ
lection to an extension within a reasonable
time of the period during which the Chinese
might take out their certificates Of registra-
ton. He was willing that this period should
be extended ninety days, and IL the Chinese
showed a disposition to comply with the
law even a further period. in the discretion
Of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
No Agreement Reached.
Should these provisions be antagonized
by the government Mr.. Geary said that he
stood ready. as did every member from the
slope, to oppose in every way possible the
passage Of the bill The meeting adjourned
without coming to a positive agreement.
with the understanding. however. that the
bill would be taken up In committee this
morning.
Mr.. Geary declared his intention of MAX
ing a fight for the reference Of the bill to a
subcommittee for further investigation, and
said that II the tempt was made to re-
port the bill to the House today in its pres
ent shape, every art known to the filibuster
would be called into reQuisition against II.
Referred to a SubcOmm mittee.
There will be no report today, however.
on the Everett bill. After considering 1t
this morning. the House committee on for
eign affairs referred it to a subcommittee
consisting Of Messrs. McCreary, Everett
Geary. Hit and Harmer. and then ad-
ad