Evening star., 1894-03-23
THE CHINESE TREATY
Its Terms Discussed by the Pacific Coast
Members
They Generally Oppose II and Say II
Negatives Restrictive Measures
The Administration View.

The new Chinese treaty has suddenly
given burning issue to the Pacific coast
delegation in Congress. They are eagerly
discussing its terms. although none Of the
Pacific coast representatives has informa-
ton Of its terms further than that pub
lished In the Associated Press dispa tches
Representative Geary of California, the au-
thor of the present Geary act. said that he
expected to read the treaty carefully dur
ing the day. Until then he would give no
opinion on its effect on the Geary law and
it's general effect in admitting Chinese.
The other democratic Congressman from
California were averse to expressing their
views. The republicans were very en-
phatic in condemning the treaty.
Representative Bowers of California said:
This treaty is part Of the general sym
pathy 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 restrictions
Representative Hilborn Of California, who
was United States district attorney during
the first prosecution Of Chinese under the
original exclusion law, said of the new
treaty; The reported features of the new
treaty providing that American laborers in
China shall register is meaningless as we
have not more than fifty American laborers
IN that country. If there was to be any rec
iprocity 1t should have been in protecting
Americans in China. Our people. mission.
aries and others, take their lives In their
nands when they go twenty miles into the
interior. China will never grant us the
same protection she asks for her people in
tnls country. The proposed treaty will be
great shock to the Pacific states. :"
rNepreSentatlve Mcguire of California said :
IN IN 50 Iar as the treaty in aEy way changes
tne present provisions for Chinese exclu-
sion. which represent the result of twelve
years OF experience, 1 am opposed TO il
tnlnk that the treaty should unuualifiedly
recognize and uphold all present laws on
EQD7oCt Chinese irI1r ,fsr,, 81
see no objection, however, to having China
eStaDhsh and maintain registration laws
applying to our citizens in China similar to
this country
Representative Wilson OF Washington
said; After battling for years for an ad-
e9uate restrictive law. the present pro-
Chinese and pro-Ef;tish administrator ha g
over-r.dden the law, and has rot only gone
into the business Of aiding the Chinese to
invade my state, but has also made con-
tracts with British coal firms across the
border from my state and in competItion
with our people. 1t is part of a general
policy fayoring the Chinese"
Representative Ellis OF Oregon said: THE
reported abandonment of Photographic
Id an tification will take away one of the
vital means of restriction. Until the full
text Of the treaty is at hand it will be diff
hcult to form an opinion of 1t, but if Ii in
any way limits the present restriction or
makes Chinese INN igration easier 1t will
be serious blow to the people Of the Pa
cific coast"
The Administration View.
Some surprise Is manifested In admins
tration circles at the opposition that has
already developed to the new Chinese
treaty. This treaty is the outcome of
months of patient work and skillful nego-
tiation and 1t was hoped that the State de-
partment had succeeded at last in settling
In manner that would be entirely satis-
factory the question of regulating Chinese
immigration. For nearly ten years this
subject has been a source of trouble and
tEe public has scarcely appreciated the
danger to which the country has been con-
stantly exposed of total severance Of
friendly relations 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 representative of the
Chinese government; however. made his
very clear, for the Chinese have used some
severe language in charging our govern
ment with a deliberate violation of the
treaty and the replies of our department
have been rather weak in meeting the
charge.
So, in negotiating the treaty now before
the Senate for ratification, the administra-
ton felt that it had achieved some very de-
sira bic results.
- to the objection that has been made
to the treaty provision allowing the Chi
nese government to place similar reStric-
tions as to certifcation, &C., upon the i'm
migration Of American laborers into China,
IL is urged by the friends of the treaty that
no great hardship will be worked; for, in
the first place, 1t is doubtful whether the
Chinese government ever will exercise the
power 1t reserves in this particular, and, in
the second place. there probably are not
more than two score American laborers in
all China at this time who would be af
fected, even should the section be made