The Washington times., 1902-01-21
HEARING ON
THE CHINESE BILL.
Opposition to Measure Before Sen
dte Committee Senator'S Mason
and PenTose Express Views.

| The opening of a vigorous campaign
| against the enactment of the extreme
| legislation for Chinese exclusion, pro-
posed by the Pacific Coast delegation in
| Congress. will take place today before
! the Senate immigration Committee, when
Representatives of the Boston Chamber
of Commerce, the American Asiatic AS
sociation. the cotton mill owners Of New
England and the South, and of firms en-
| gagged in China trade, will be heard in
! opposition to the Mitchell bill.
This movement is not against the ex-
clusion of Chinese, but excluding them
forever, as they are fearful such action
will induce retaliatory measures against
the rapidly growing trade of the United
States with the Flowery Kingdom.
The limit of the existing exclusion laws
expires next January, and the treaty on
which they are based will expire two
years thereafter. The representatives Of
the trade with China will therefore urge
the extension of the exclusion laws for
two years, to correspond with the treaty.
China Files Protest.
An intimation that any action looking
TO permanent exclusion Of Chinese sub
jects will not be pleasing to that Gov
State Department.
The delegation to be heard today will
include President Silas D. Webb, of the
China and Japan Trading Company. of
New York; John Foard and Cornelius n.
Bliss, of the American Asiatic Associa-
tion Charles S. Hamlin, formerly Assist
ant Secretary of the Treasury, represent
ing the Boston Chamber of Commerce and
the New England cotton mill owners; d.
A. Tompkins, of the United States In
dustrial Commission, in behalf OF the
North Carolina cotton mill owners, and
Ellison A. Smythe, of the cotton mill own
ers of South Carolina.
Senator PenrOse Expects to Learn.
We'll, I guess I'll learn quite q good
deal about Chinese tomorrow and as to
the ways that are strange and peculiar -
said Senator Penrose. of Philadelphia.
chairman of the Senate Committee on I'm
migration, last night.
about all | know regarding Chinese
at present is chiefly confined to what
learned in my boyhood days in Philadel
phia, when We, as schoolboys, guyed
these poor fellows numerically, and
very frequently secured the very worst
of it from many points of view. How
ever, in recent moaths ! have come to
have sincere respect for the thrift OF the
Chinese. l look forward to a very inter
esting hearing, or series Of hearings,
bearing upon the question.
THE hearing of the various questions
at issue will commence tomorrow before
IT
prominent men of this country interested,
including ex-Secretary of State John W.
Foster, who will appear in the interest
OF the Chinese Government, and agents of
the Canadian Pacific and Boston and
Maine Railroad Companies, who all seem
to be well informed as to the traffic in
the transportation of Chinese persons de-
string to enter the United States"
Senator Mason's Views.
Senator Mason found it necessary to
explain to the Senate yesterday that he
was in favor of Chinese exclusion.
The occasion :or this statement was the
fact that last Wednesday he submitted
to the Senate paper purpOrting to deal
with Chinese immigration restriction and
secured an order for its publication as
Senate document. The paper was en-
titled Immigration of Chinese into the
United States-a pamphlet containing
collection of excerpts and arguments in
opposition to the passage OF law to pro-
hibit the immigration OF Chinese into the
United States"
Senator Mason said yesterday that he
had asked for the printing OF the dOcu-
ment for information; that he was himself
in favor OF rigid exclusion laws.