The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-24
A TREATY CRITICISED
CalifOrnians Object to the New
Agreement with China.
Administration Circles Surprised at the
OppOsition-C Chinese Registering
Under the Geary Law.

WASHINGTON, March %. - Some sur
prise is manifested in administration cir
cles at the opposition that has already de-
velOped to the new Chinese treaty. THE
new treaty" said one who spoke for the
State Department to-day, lis the outcome
of months of patient work and skiilful
negotiation, and it was hoped that the
State Department had succeeded at last in
settling in a manner that would be entire
~ satisfactory the question of regulating
Chinese immigration. For nearly ten years
this subject has been "a source of trouble,
and the public has surely appreciated the
danger to which the country has been ex-
posed of total severance of friendly re-
lationS with China, with the probable loss
of our valuable commercial relations with
that country. The correspondence which
has passed in that time between our State
Department and the diplomatic representa-
tives of the Chinese government, however,
make this very clear, for the Chinese have
used some very severe language in charg
ing our government with deliberate vio-
lation of the treaty, and the replies Of our
department have been rather weak in meet
ing the charge. So, in negotiating the
treaty now before the Senate for ratifica-
ton, the administration felt that it had
achieved some very desirable results, for
not only had it set at rest the morally
sound complaint of the Chinese government,
but it had at the same time preserved in
the form of sacred treaty obligations all
OF the restrictive features of the existing
Chinese restriction laws that, in the opin-
Ion or the department, were worthy of
perpetuation This result was secured with
the entire approval Of the Chinese govern
ment There was a reasonable certainty
also that the treaty would meet with the
approval of the Senate, unless there had
been a great change in public opinion with
In the past few years, for it was framed
on the lines of the treaty negotiated by
ce,yed fb Bayard In 1881, when had re-
Senate"
1t is felt that some of the criticisms which
nave been passed upon the new treaty are
unreasonable or else have been made under
a miSconception of the exact scope of the
instrument. Such, for instance, is said to
be the complaint that the treaty opens the
way to fraud in that 1t will permit Chinese
who leave the United States with the eX-
press determination to return to sell their
papers to other Chinese and thus keep up q
stream of immigration As matter Of fact
the treaty clothes the collectors of customs
at Immigrant ports with the widest meas;
they may frame their regulations relative
to identification of Chinese returning &c
America with such completeness as to make
it absolutely impossible for any substitu-
ton to take place and thus insure the coun-
try against further immigration of Chinese
the treaty provision allowing the Chinese
government to place similar restrictions as
TO certiilcattOn, etc, upon the immigration
of American laborers into China IL is urged
by the friends of the treaty that no great
hardship VIII be worked, for IN the firSt
place it is doubtful whether the Chinese
government ever will exercise the power
il reserves in this particular, and in the
second place there are probably not more
China chin at this time ' Who wonid be affected
even should the section be made operative.
The Pacific coast delegation to Congress
are eagerly discussing its terms, of which
all the information they have is the re-
ports published in the dispatches. Repre-
sentative Geary. of California, the author
Of the Geary act, sa{d that he expected &c
read the treaty carefully during the day
Until then he would give no opinion on Its
feet in admitting the Chinese. The other
Democratic Congressman from California
were averse to expressing theircviews. This
Republicans were very emphatic in con
denning the treaty. -
Representative Bowers, of California
said: This treaty is part of the genera
with the Chinese. The theory of the Geary
law was sharply restrictive and the the
DRY of this treaty is TO nullify the restric
lions"
Representative Hilsborn, of California
who was United STAGES district attorney
der the original exclusion law, said of tn,
new treaty: THE rep1 rted features of The
new treaty providing that American labor
as we have not more than fifty American
laborars in that country. If there was t
be any reciprocity il should have been il
protecting Americans in China Our people
missionaries and others, take their lives
in their hands when they go twenty mile:
into the interior. China will never gran
US the same protection she asks for he
people in this country. The proposed treat!
will be great shock 10 the Pacific States.
Representative Maglire said: I'm so IA
as the treaty in any way changes tn
present provisions for Chinese exclusion
| which represent the result of twelve years
experience, / am Opposed to II. L thinl
| that the treaty should unqualifiedly recog
| nize and uphold all present laws on tn
| subject Of Chinese immigration. l can Sc
no objection, however, 20 having Chin;
| establish and maintain registration. law
| applying to our citizens IN China simila
| to those we have applied to her citizen
| in this country.
| Representative Wilson, of, Washington
| said: After battling for years for an ad
| equate restrictive law, the present pro
| Chinese and pro-British administration ha
| overridden the law and has not only gon
| into the business Of aiding the Chinese Z
| invade my State, but also has made con
| tracts with British coal firms across tn
| border from my State and in competition
| with our people. 1t IS part of the genera
| policy favoring the Chinese"
| Representative Ellis, of Oregon, said
THE reported abandonment OF photo
| graphic identification viii take away one O
| the vital means of restriction. Until tn
| difficult TO form an opinion Of it, but If
| In any way limits the present restrictions
or makes Chinese immigration easier,
| will be a serious blow TO the people OF tn
| Pacific coast"