The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-04-13
rHE CHINESE EXCLUSION BILLS.
.ho W. Foster Points Out Harsh Features
~ in Pending Measures.

r.
VINO IS not an official, teacher, student,
merchant or a traveller for curiosity
OF pleasure as hereinafter defined" This
would exclude bankers, commercial brok
erS' clersymen' physicians, lawyers. civil
engineers, men of rank and wealth or
scientists VINO seek residence. and many
other desirable and worthy Chinese. 1t Is
clearly against the intent of the treaty.
"hich was designed TO exclude laborers
only.
The treaty provides for the free adn,is-
sion and residence in the United States
OF officials. students merchants and travel
ers and yet the bill contains provisions
which practically nullify the treaty.
The word teacher" in its article s
enlarged in the bill, without anv warrant,
to be On one who for not less than two
years next preceding his application for
entry into the United States has been con.
tinuously engaged CD in giving instruc-
ton III the higher branches of education.
and CD who proves to the satisfaction Of
the appropriate treasury officer that he is
qualified to teach such higher branches
and ca completed arrangements TO teach
IN a recognized institution of learning in
the United States, and 80 intends to pur
sue no other occupation than teaching while
in the United States"
Here are FIVE conditions. each of which
IS made requisite to the admission into
the United States, not one of which is at-
thorized by the treaty and. to crown
the absurdity Of the proposed legislation,
1t is provided that subordinate inspec-
tor in the San Francisco custom house
who knows not single word of the Chin.
csc language and little, If anything. Of the
educational institutions OF that cultured
people, shall pass upon the qualifications
of the teacher or professor The treaty
is explicit as to the character of the certi-
hcate which the teacher must present and
no other can be required with due regard
to treaty stpulatons
When the provision OF the bill as to
students is examined. il will be found to
be equally absurd and impossible of oh
serVance. 1t is as follows: The term
student as used in this act, is construed
to mean only one who % intends to pur-
sue some of the higher branches of study.
or ca to be fitted for some profession or
occupation 60 for which facilities of study
are not afforded in the foreign country or
the territory of the United States whence
he comes. and Cd for whose support while
studying adequate provision has been
made, and 80 who intends to depart from
the United States Immediately on the COM
pletion Of his studies
UNWARRANTED CONDITIONS.
Here are four or five conditions. two be-
ing in the alternative, none Of which arc
warranted by the treaty, which must be
established to the satisfaction of the i'm
migration Inspector before a student can
be admitted to the United States.
Only those arc to be admitted who come
with sufficient collegiate or advanced edu-
cation to enable them to enter a profess
sional school or TO pursue a postgraduate
course OF study
1t must he shown to the satisfaction Of
this inspector. before the student is ad-
mitted that there are no institutions of
| learning in China, or in the insular pos
| sessions in case the student comes from
our islands, in which he can fit himself
! for his chosen profession or pursue his
Postgraduate studies. The inspector may
not be informed of the fact but every
intelligent American conversant with the
| Orient knows that there are in the Imper-
ial universities at Pekn and TientSn and
in the mission institutions at Pekin, Shang-
| hal, and elsewhere in China, and in Homo
| lulu at least, of our insular possessions,
! facilities where a student may pursue a
course of study in medicine international
and municipal law, theology, the classic
/ and modern languages, engineering and
other scientific pursuits.
! If a student Applies for admission to
the United States to secure a degree in
medicine, law, divinity, or other profes-
sion, he must satisfy the inspector that he
has arranged in advance money credit
sufficient to defray his expenses for the
two or three years course required,
If he comes to fit himself for the profess
sion of medicine or divinity, he can not
on receiving his degree, practice as ply
sician among his own people resident in
the United States, or accept a post as
preacher or evangelist in any of the var
ious Chinese mission stations in our cities
or in the Hawaiian or Philippine islands
but he must return to China Immediately
OH the completion Of his course of studies.
Nothice also the provisions OF the bill
as to Chinese merchants. Its Requirement
that a merchant must have fixed place
OF business" within the United States vii
exclude commission merchants or brok
ers, through which class most of the trad
in China is carried on; and it will pre-
vent merchants residing in China and do
ing business there from coming to TIN
: country to make their purchases.
1t is required that a merchant once II
the United States and returning, or Of
coming from our insular possessions must
before entry, satisfy the treasury inspec
tor that he has in advance completed tn
arrangements for forthwith becoming tn
owner, in whole or in part of good-fait
mercantile business He is also require
to establish to the satisfaction of tn
, treasury official certain facts by the testi
mony of two credible witnesses other thai
Chinese
IMPOSSIBLE AND UNJUST.
In many masses of bona hde merchant
these conditions will prove impossible o
fulflment. And it is repugnant to tn
ideas of justice and to orderly judicial pro
, ceedings o cast discredit as witnesses upo
whole race or nationality, and II is Ger
tainly a violation OF the favored nation
clause OF the treaty already cited, as n
such rule is enforced against either on
own citizens or those OF any other natio