The Washington times., 1902-04-06
CHINESE EXCLUSION
VOTE IN HOUSE MONDAY

len of by 10000 In the ten years from 1890
to 1900.
Mr.. Platt (Rep.. Comm said that this
country could not afford to disregard it's
treaties with any foreign nation least of
all could it afford to disregard them with
a power which was not able 10 defend it
self. The suggestion which he wished to
submit was whether the pending bill, in
its definitions of the excepted classes,
was keeping the treaty with China, either
in letter or spirit
China had not been consulted as to
those definitions. and China would have
right to complain. seriously. that the
United states was not attempting, in a
fair spirit to observe the provisions of
that treaty. He quoted the provisions of
the bill applying to Chinese teachers, and
said that under that definition 1t was
practically impossible for Chinese tea CHI
ers to be admitted into the United States
AS to the definition given in the bill to
the term student" Mr.. Platt said thar
1t entirely changed the understanding of
contracting parties when the treaty of
1894 was made.
That definition" Mr.. Platt declared,
would make us absolutely ridiculous.
Such definition was never heard or
thought OF until 1t was set forth by Treas
ury regulations, or by this act
Mr.. Gallinger read the definition of the
word teacher" from the Standard Die
tonary and remarked that no man was
a,droit enough to comfort that definition
into the meaning of. the word set out in
the bill
AS to the importation of Chinese wo-
men for improper purposes, he venturcd
to say that other cities than San Fran
cisco could show as bad conditions. They
cnnlH ho ri in nar
New York. according to the statement of
darlington Booth: and could be rivaled in
Puritan Boston. They could be discovered
even in the city of Washington not far
from the dome Of the Capitol. He did
not think that that observation ought to
influence any vote on this very important
question.
Fayors Existing Law.
He was not opposed to the restriction
of Chinese immigration. but he believed
that the present statute was drastic
enough. and that during the pendency OF
the existing treaty with China. while
Americans were trying to Christian
ize the Chinese, and to extend their
trade with the Orient. Congress ought not
by additional legislation slap that great
Empire in the face.
The bill went over without action, Mr..
Cullom tRep.. Ill), chairman Of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, giving no
tice that he would address the Senate on
the subject on Monday.
Senator Dillingham; of Vermont gave no.
tice of twelve proposed amendments to the
bill. Among the proposed changes are
these:
Giving the Chinese subjects the right of
free transit across the United States in
accordance with the guarantee OF the
treaty with China: providing for the ad-
mission to the United States of bona fide
representa- of Chinese commercial
houses: permitting the admission of Chi
nese crews by American vessels. and per-
mitting the admission Of Chinese exhibit
ors at expositions. a..
The amendments also make more liberal
the definition of what shall constitute a
student" to be admitted. and excludes
from the operations OF tfe act Chinese OF
mixed blood who were born In the Philip
pines.