Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-04-16
DEBATE ON
CHINESE BILL.

Washington, April l5.-The debate
on the Chinese exclusion bill was prac-
tically concluded today and voting on
the bill and amendments viii begin at
10 o'clock tomorrow by general con-
sent q vote was taken today on two
important amendments offered by Mr..
Fairbanks OF Indiana, striking out the
definition as TO Chinese students and
teachers, and they were agreed to with
cut division.
These changes were made with view
to reconciling some of the opposition
to the measure, which has been direct
ed against the rigid restrictions on stu
dents and teachers, and the alleged UNI
necessary inconvenience this would Inn
pose on the educated Chinese classes
coming 10 this country, The debate
was participated In by Senator Helt-
field OF Idaho, Senators Penrose OF
Pennsylvania and Turner Of Washing
ton In favor Of the bill and Senator
Pritchard Of North Carolina and son
ator Spooner OF Wisconsin In opposl-
ton.
Mr. Turner made the assertion that
politics had crept into the discussion,
and that most OF the senators OF the
majority were opposed to the bill, This
brought out a sharp reJolnder from MT
SpOoner who maintained that politics
had not figured in the discussion, and
that the opposition to the present bill
was due entirely 10 It's conflict with the
treaty, and not because OF any opposi-
ton to Chinese exclusion, which was
an established doctrine of the govern
ment,
The bill had no politics In II when It
came from the committee, said MI
Turner Il was a measure for the pro-
lection OF the people OF Our land. From
time 1t was reported. however, SEN
timent has been crystalll2ing on the
Republican side Of the chamber, until
the measure hardly had friend on
that side, save among the members OF
the committee. Politics had crept in,
the senator declared, In spite Of the
efforts to keep II out. The powerful
corporations had been heard from; the
business interests" had been heard
from. The great transcontinental
railroads and the steamship companies
were opposed TO exclusion, and In his
Judgment, their opposition had taken
the form Of the proposed substitute for
an extension of the present law The
substitute was an announcement TO
China and the laboring people Of this
country that no exclusion ewould be
undertaken without the consent OF
China.
Mr. Turner closed with an expression
of amazement at the tendency 20 quote
history in favor OF China. and com
pared this with the bloody work Of
China two years ago, when the United
States minister was prisoner at Pc
kin.
Mr.. spooner Of Wisconsin expressed
dissatisfaction with the pending bill,
and also with the substitute. He was
astonished TO hear from the Washing
ton senator, MIR, Turner, an imputa-
ton Of unworthy motives on the part
of senators on the Republican side OF
the chamber.
Nh. Turner dsclalmed any purpose
TO impute unworthy motives TO sena-
tors, Not a breath Of party division
had occurred on this measure, contin-
ued Mr. Spooner, until the senator from
Washington had injected It into the
discussion, evidently with the belief
that when he left the Republican party
all It's virtue departed with him. The
Republican party needed no defense,
Mr. Spooner said, against the charge
that II opposed effective Chinese ex-
cluson. Strike from the statute
books what that party had enacted for
the protection Of the American wage
Garner. and but little would remain.
The senator declared that the time
would never come when our people
would admit the Chinese, no matter
what steamship company or what rail-
road company desired IT, The exclusion
OF Chinese was a definite and estab-
llshed Tollcy, and he and his associated
on the Republican side OF the chamber
did not Yield TO the senator from Wash
ineton in the determination 10 keep the
Chinese from our shores. But, Mr..
spooner said, he believed in keeping
treaty obligations and either there
should be exclusion consistent with our
treaty, or else, If necessity required,
there should be an abrogation Of that
treaty.
As Mr. spooner proceeded he had
frequent sharp parliamentary eX-
with Mr.. Patterson Of Colo
RADIO and Mr.. Mitchell Of Oregon on in
features Of the bill. Respond
Ing to MIR. Spooner Mr. Plat said that
while he did not consider II necessary
to do so, he would accept the sugges-
ton and insert In his substitute spe-
cifc provision continuing in effect the |
Scott act of 1883. He also agreed to a |
made by Mr.. Lodge, extend |
ing the provisions Of the substitute 10 |
the insular possessions OF the United |
States. and to Chinese coming TO the
mainland Of the United States from |
those insular possessions
Mr. Turner had been a somewhat i'm |
patient listener to the effort to perfect |
the substitute, and when Mr.. Plat |
Welded the floor he complained that in |
asmuch as Mr.. Spooner had made fire.
ouent reference to him the brushing |
aside" OF himself had been discour-
teous. Mr.. Plat replied that such had |
not been his intention, and II WITS ar |
ranged that the senate should advance |
for another hour the time for conven-
Ing tomorrow, In order to give Mr.. Tur-
ner an opportunity to be heard, thus |
the time OF meeting tomorrow |
10 o'clock.
Mr.. Pettus then sought 10 have the |
senate adjourn, but Mr.. Penrose at |
tempted 90 secure an executive session, |
In order 20 have the senate act on the |
OF MIR. Wynne as first as
slstant postmaster general Mr.. Pen |
rose succeeded. but when the doors |
closed Mr.. Pettus baffled his purpose |
by calling attention to lack Of quo
rum.
Bourke Cochran Sees the Pope.
New York, April l6--Bourke Cochran |