The morning call., 1894-03-24
LOOpholes Through Which the
Chinese May Crawl.
INSULT TO LABoRERs ABROAD.
Congressman From the West Speak
of the Treaty in Plain Words
of Condemnation.

ces at the opposition that has already de-
veloped to the new Chinese treaty. 1.-The
new treaty." said enc Of those who spoke
for the State Department, ''is the outcome
of months Of patient work and skillful
negotiation, and it was hoped the Stale
Department had succeeded at last in set
Ting in a manner entirely satisfactory the
question of regulating Chinese immigra-
ton. For nearly ten years this subject
has been a source of trouble. and the pub
lie has surely appreciated the danger to
which the country has been exposed of a
total severance of friendly relations with
China, with the probable loss of our valu-
able commercial relations with that coun-
try. The correspondence which has passed
during that time between the State De-
partment and the diplomatic representa-
tive of the Chinese Government, however,
make this very clear, for the Chinese
have used some severe language in
charging our Government with a delib-
crate violation of treaties.
80 in negotiating the treaty now be-
fore the Senate before ratification the ad-
ministratiOn felt it had achieved some very
desirable results, for not only had it set at
rest the morally sound complaint Of China,
but had at the same time preserved In the
form of sacred treaty obligations all of the
restrictive features of the Chinese restric-
tion laws that in the opinion of this de-
partment were worthy of perpeiuation.
This result was secured with the entire
approval Of the Chinese Government
There was a reasonable certainty also that
the treaty would meet the approval of the
Senate unless there had been a great
change in public opinion within the past
few years. for it was framed on the lines
of the treaty negotiated by Secretary Bay
ard In 1887, which had received the unqual-
fled sanction of the Senate.
''It is felt some Of the criticisms which
have been passed upon the new treaty are
unreasonable or else have been made un-
der misconception of the exact scope of
the instrument. Such. for instance, is
said to be the statement that the treaty
opens the way to fraud in that it will per-
nit Chinese who leave the United States
with the express determination to return
TO sell their papers to other Chinese and
thus keep up stream of immigration. As
a matter of TACT the treaty enforces the
closest inspection at immigration ports and
the officers may frame their regulations
regarding identity of Chinese returning to
America with such completeness as to
make it absolutely impossible for any sub
sttution to take place and thus insure the
country against further immigration of
Chinese.
''As to the objection that has been made
to the treaty provision allowing the Chi
nese Government to place similar restrc-
tions, etc., upon the immigration of
American la5orers into China, it is urged
r IN fri Of ba
hardship will be worked. for, in the first
place, it is doubtful whether the Chinese
Government ever will exercise the power
1t reserves in this particular, and 10 the
second place there are probably not more
than two score American laborers In all
China at this time who would be affected,
even should the section be made opera
tive"
The Pacific delegation in Congress is
eagerly discussing the treaty, of which all
the information they nave is the report
published in the Associated Press dis
patches. Representative Geary of Cali
fornia, the author of the Geary act, said he
expected to read the treaty carefully dur
ing the day. Until then he would give no
opinion on its effect on the Gearv law and
its general effect in admitting Chinese.
The other Democratic Congressman
from California were averse to express
ing their Views. The Republicans were
very emphatic in condemniEg the treaty.
r preventative Bowers of California
said: This treaty is part of the general
sympathy of the present administration
with the Chinese. The theory of the
Geary law was sharply restrictive, and the
theory of this treaty is TO nullify the re-
strctions."
Representative Hilborn, who was United
States District Attorney during the first
prosecution of Chinese under the original
exclusion law. said of the new treaty:
The reported feature of the new treaty
providing that American laborers in China
shall register is meaningless, as we have
not over fifty American laborers in thu
country. If there was to be any reciprocity
1t should have been in protecting Ameri-
cans In China. Our people, missionaries
and others. take their lives In tn cir hands
when they go twenty miles into the in-
terior Of China. That country will never
grant US the protection she asks for her
people in this country. The proposed
treaty will be great shock to the Pacific
States"
Representative Mcguire of California
said: ''In so far as the treaty in any way
changes the present provisions for Chinese
exclusion. which represent the result of
twelve years experiences, am opposed to
it. think the treaty should uuqualiiedIy
recognize and uphold all present laws on
the subject of Chinese immigration. can
see no objection to having China establish
and maintain registration laws applying to
our citizens in China. nor to those who
have applied to her citizens in this coun-
try"
representative Wilson of Washington
said: After battling for years for an
adequate restrictive law the present pre-
Chinese and pro- British administra-
tion has overridden the law, and
has not only gone into the busi-
ness of aiding the Chinese 10 invade my
State, but has also made contracts with
British coal firms across the border from
my State and in competition with our
people,"
CHINESE REGISTRATION.