The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-16

Illinois was thus explained by Senator
Perkins: The President desired Mr..
Davis. chairman of the Senate Commit
tee on Foreign Relations. . accept a
place on the commission but he de-
clined, and so Senator Cullom was ap-
pointed to represent the majority on
the committee. Mr.. Morgan was named
to represent the minority of the COM
mittee. Mr.. Hit, chairman of the House
Committee on Foreign Relations, was
appointed. 1t so happens that Cullom
and Hit are from Illinois"
According to Senator Perkins own
admissions, the delegation did not hold
a single meeting to discuss the subject
of recommending the selecting of a
Commissioner from the Pacific Coast.
No thought was given to the subject
until the bill had passed and gone to
the President for his approval. Sena-
tor White and Representatives Hill
born, Loud, Mcguire, Barham and the
others seem to have been as idle as
Perkins himself. Apparently there
was no discord in the delegation. 1t
would seem that there was not suffi-
cient animation for discordant note.
Mr.. Estee, whose name was suggested
to Judge Day after the President had
appointed the Commissioners, was not
even consulted. But this omission TO
consult Mr.. Estee does not amount to
much, as the public mind is quite we'll
made up that Mr.. Estee would have
served if he had been urged by the
President and his fellow citizens to ac-
cept the office. The point that strikes
the California public with beWildering
force bears on the utter lack of enter
prise and State loyalty in the delega
ton from California in the Congress
of the United States.
AS to coolie and contract labor in
Hawaii, Senator Perkins is convinced
that under the law it cannot come in
competition with the free labor of the
United States. He holds that the laws
of this country relating to the hours Of
labor must be observed now that the
islands have been annexed to the
United States. He claims to appreciate
the fact that California for the past
twenty-five years has been making a
determined stand against the introduce
ton and recognition of low grade coolie
and contract laborers, and expresses
the opinion that the administration Of
affairs in Hawaii should not be allowed
to set aside the good work which has
been done here in behalf of intelligent
American industry
at may become necessary" said
Senator Perkins, ito deport the coolies
and low grade laborerS now in Hawaii
Surely the laws of this country for the
protection of the workingman will be
enforced in the annexed territory. This
labor problem is one Of great impor-
lance to the people of the Pacific Coast
I am not unmindful of the strong re-
sistance the people of this coast and
particularly the people Of California
have made to the Introduction Of
Asiatic labor. Having this in mind,
was anxious that citizen Of Califor-
MIA should be on the commission to adj
just the new order of things. I am con-
WINGED that the Commissioners will
give this subject earnest consideration.
Existing contracts can be annulled, and
If necessary the coolies imported to
the islands can be deported.'
In regard to the general work of the
California delegation in Congress Sem
ator Perkins remarked that there was
a disposition to cenSure a Senator for
what had not been done, but there was
no inclination to give credit to a pub
lie servant for what had been accom-
plished. Speaking Of his own work he
said he had succeeded in getting an ap-
preparation of $4,000 for Mare Island.
S133, 900 for Oakland harbor improve
ment, 100000 for the Postoffice in San
Francisco and $1,000 for water sys-
tenn at Angel Island. One of the three
new battle ships and several of the tor
pedo boats had been secured for this
city The Senator enumerated many
other appropriations for smaller meas
ures of public good and remarked that
he had worked diligently to promote
the welfare of this State.