Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-12-12
.,nNROSE TO THE FRONT
Young Pennsylvania Senator Leads
In Two Important Issues.
WILL KEEP OUT THE CHINESE
Pennsylvania Worklngmen Are Also
Pleased With His Determination to
Block the Importation Of Foreign
Labor.


Labor.
Especial Correspondence)
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 10.-Admirers of
United States Senator Boies Penrose
are delighted over the national promi-
nence he has received since the recon-
vening of congress through his leader
ship Of the movement to re-enact the
Geary Chinese exclusion law and to
have introduced such additional safe
guards against the invasion Of foreign
labor as may be deemed expedient.
Senator Penrose is chairman of the i'm
portant committee on immigration,
which is made up of some OF the
strongest members Of the senate, in
cluding Lodge, of Massachusetts; Ma
son, of Illinois; Fairbanks, Of Indiana,
and Sewell, of New Jersey. The initial
move of Senator Penrose in the cru
sade against the invasion Of the Chi
nese was the introduction of bill
simply re-enacting the Geary law, with
a provision for the exclusion Of Chinese
laborers for period Of twenty years.
This time limit is not, however, in
tended to mean that at the expiration
of that period the Chinese will be ad-
mitted, but for diplomatic reasons 1t
has not been deemed wise to have such
a clause inserted in the bill.
CONFERRING WITH ROOSEVELT.
Senator Roosevelt has been in con-
sultation with President Roosevelt, and
they thoroughly agree as to the general
terms of the bill to be reported from
Senator Penrose's committee. There
have been so many bills and amend
ments introduced on this subject that
Senator'S Penrose and Lodge, who have
been constituted a subcommittee Of
the senate committee on immigration
on this measure, will get together and
draft a new bill, that will be known
as the Penrose Chinese exclusion bill,
and which will meet every requirement
of the situation.
Senator Quay took a hand in the
matter before by presenting an amend
ment to Senator Penrose's bill to eX-
empt from exclusion all Chinese who
have embraced Christianity and the
Chinese who took part in the defense
or the relief of the foreign legations
and in the defense and the relief of
Pe-ting Cathedral in Pekin in the sum-
mer of 1900. Senator Quay stated that
the cathedral was entirely defended by
Chinese.
PROTECTING AMERICAN LABOR.
Another matter in which Senator
Penrose has takena conspicuous part is
that of the regulation of immigration.
He has introduced bill which en-
braces so sections, and which is the
outcome of numerous conferences he
has had with Commissioner of Immi
grafton Powderly
This measure provides for boards of
special inquiry at the various ports of
the country to examine immigrants
and order the deportation OF those who
shall be found undesirable or ineligible
ion is made for physical examination
of every immigrant by the United
States Marine Hospital service. The
purpose of the proposed legislation is
to further restrict immigration with
view to giving more protection to
American labor and to excluding the
undesirable elements which have been
introduced in many regions through
the present too liberal laws.
Senator Penrose has been In receipt
Of many letters from leaders of labor
organizations, particularly the coal
miners, assuring him Of their hearty
corporation in his efforts to curtail
the importation of laborers to the
detriment of those American-born and
naturalized citizens now employed in
this state.
With the intended reduction of the
number of immigrants it is believed
there will be better opportunities af-
forded labor in every direction to pro-
cure more satisfactory remuneration,
and to have the hours of the working
Iueu SuOTleleu WlluOul IGuuClHS luclI
compensation.
WILL FIGHT AGGRESSIVELY.
Senator Penrose will make several
speeches in support of his bills for the
restriction of immigration and the eX
clusion of the Chinese laborers when
they come before the senate. He does
not anticipate much Of fight on the
Chinese issue, but says that he fears
some of the corporations that are bene-
flied by the importation of foreign la
Dor will do everything in their power
to keep the immigration laws as liberal
as possible to further their business
interests.
The workingmen of Pennsylvania,
who are so keenly interested in this
issue, are gratified over the determine
ton manifested by Senator Penrose to