BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-04-05
Chinese Exclusion.
Chinese May Not Enter San Juan
Porto Rico Striken From List.
Bill Favorably Reported BY The Foreign
Affairs Committee.

The House Committee on Foreign
Affairs completed on March 25 con-
sideration of the Chinese Exclusion
bill, and by practically unanimous
vote ordered it favorably reported
The bill has been carefully considered
for more than a month, and it comes
from the committee with a number of
changes The exclusion of Chinese
1aborers is made complete, both as to
the mainland of the United States ano
all insular possessions, including the
Philippines and Hawaii. The committee
finally restored The prohibitory clause
recommended by the Pacific Coast
Senators and Representatives, SO that
as reported it reads:
And the prohibition shall apply to
all Chinese laborers, as well as to these
who were in such insular possessions
at the time of acquisition by the United
States as to those who have come there
since and those who may be born there
hereafter.
In addition the committee framed
the following new section, Specifically
directing the Philippine COMMISSION to
put the exclusi 0n law into force:
That the Philippine Commission is
here authorized and required to make
all regulation necessary for the enforce
ment of this act in the Philippines :
San Juan, Porto Rico, was stricken
from the list of ports where Chinese
may enter, as it was feared there would
be an influx of Chinese on the island
Iha other more important changes
made by the committee are as follows
Certificates of identification OF Chi
nese must be accompanied by photho
| graphs, at the expense of the Chinese
In addition to ban Francisco and tht
other ports specifically ment1oled tol
the examination and admission OF Ger
tain Chinese, the Commissioner Gene
raj of immigration is authorized t
designate such other ports as may b
Necessary. The comn4Ctee considered
Tnat the original bill was 100 severe Il
making it felony for any Official (
neglect to detain a Chinese person seek
ing admission, and the penalty wa
reduced to a misdemeanor. The orig
inal bill also subjected a vessel to to1
-eicure in case it brought over torbidae1
Chinese, but the committee changeC
This to a fine of $1,000 against III;
master or owner of the vessel and foI
lecture in case the fine is not paid. III,
committee struck out the clause requI
ing the United states District Attorlle.
20 be present at all depo1satIon gro
csedings, and requiring al leastSrlVs
credible witnesses other than Chimes
TO establish the right 10 remain in th;
q tied States. The prohibits agains
Chinese sailors on American ships wa
stricken out, thus permitting SUCH CHI
nese sailors to be employed. Tht
.erm Chinese" was made to include al
those who are Chinese by birth or des
cent, leaving out the re 4erencss TO mix
ed, full blood, etc. The comnlitset
also struck out the fee of SIS TO tht
United States commissioner for passing
On every case under the act
In other respects the measure i
practically the same as that agreed Oh
by the Pacific Coas. interests, with cer
tain amendments made from time t
| time.
After reporting the bill on Thursday
Chairman. Hit is hopeful of bringing
it to early consideration,