The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-03-14
CHINESE EXCLUSION BILL.
II Re-epacts the Present Law and Adds
More stringent Provisions.


WASHINGTON, March I3.-The Senate
Committee on immigration to-day con-
cluded consideration Of the Chinese Exclu-
sion bill and it was reported TO the Senate.
IL is practically the same measure proposed
by the Committee of Pacific Coast repre-
sentatives and urged by the labor interests.
The present Exclusion law expires next
year and the new bill not only reenacts
that law, but includes also the Treasury
regulations for carrying out the law, and
in addition makes more stringent provis-
Ions for keeping out the Chinese.
One of the most important OF these pro-
visions is that prohibiting American vessels
from hiring Chinese for crews. Upon the
recommendation Of Gov. Taft the committee
excerpts from the prohibition tho Chi
nese in the Philippines, who are Of mixed
blood. they being, he said, Filipinos. The
provision excluding from entry into the
United States the full-blooded Chinese
Of the Philippines and Hawaii is far-reach-
ing. II reads:
From and after the passage OF this act.
the entry into the American mainland terri
tory Of the United States of Chinese laborers
coming from any Of the, insular territory
OF tho United States shall be absolutely pro-
hibited and this prohibition shall apply
10 all Chinese laborers. as well to those who
are in such insular territory at the time or
times of acquisition thereof respectively
by the United States "a to those who have
come there since; and IL shall also apply
to those who have been born there since
and 10 those who may be born there here
after. And the same prohibition OF entry
shall apply to Chinese laborers coming TO
one island OF the Inited states rom any
except territory Of a group whereof such
island Is a member.
This provision will not only prevent the
Chinese of Hawaii and the Philippines
from entering the United States, but from
passing between those two possessions.
II il probable that the status % the Fill
pinos will be brought up when their sec
ton is reached in the senate, and the friends
of the bill expect. some difficulty in It's
adoption. The Chinese born in the Phil
ippines would naturally be classified ar
citizens OF those Islands and the effort to
bar citizens of the islands from coming
TO the United States will probably meet
opposition,
regulations which prevent the transit
through the United States of Chinese la
borers will probably set at rest the much
disputed question whether the treaty with
China guaranteed them the right Of transit.
The treaty expressly stipulates that they
are TO have the right of free transit, but
under such conditions as may be imposed
by law. The Treasury regulations i'm
posing those conditions, and which prac-
tically prevent transit, the Chinese Govern
ment claims are not imposed by law"
and TO test this claim a case which involves
over 100 Chinese held in San Francisco jails
awaiting deportation Is now before the
supreme Court of the United States for
determination
The treaty with China eHpires In 1904
and a strong effort was made before the
committee by the merchants of New York
and Boston who are engaged in the Chinese
trade TO limit the operations of the bill to
the life Of the treaty, and the negotiation of
n new convention in the meantime. They
feared that the enactment of the new law
without limit would so offend the Govern
ment of China that she would make reprisals
against trade with tho United States.