Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-10
IN THE SENATE.
Gtrons Arguments in Favor Of Chi
nese Exclusion Bill.

days session of the Senate the Chinese
exclusion bill was under consideration.
fiallinger of New Hampshire, and Dill
iingham of Vermont, opposed the bill,
and Turner of Washington, supported
it. Gallinger urged that the pending
bill was unnecessary, unjust and un-
American and was clearly in contra
ventiOn of cur treaty obligations with
China.
In an extended address Turner APP
pealed to the Senate to pass the pro-
posed bill. not merely for the protec-
ton of the people Of the Pacific states,
but to prevent the entire body polite
from being contaminated by Chinese.
Dillingham; advocated the re-enact-
ment of the Geary law. He declared
that reports of the Pacific states had
expressed themselves as perfectly sat
isffed with the operation of the exist
ing law, he said, and there was no
proper reason for a change, particularly
rs the change would involve great
trouble and expense.
When the Senate convened. Fairbanks
Und) reported favorably from the COM
mittee on immigration the Chinese exciu-
sion bill passed by the House of Repre-
sentatives. 1t was placed on the calen-
dar. Patterson offered n resolution which
was adopted, calling on the secretary of
the treasury for certain regulations re-
Garding the exclusion of the Chinese.
At the conclusion of routine business,
consideration of the Chinese exclusion
bill was resumed, Gallnger IN. H.) adj
dressing the Senate in opposition to the
measure. He declared that the bill was
'uncalled for, unnecessary, unwise and
un-American. 1t is harsh in it's prOvis-
ions, unjust in it's definitions and clearly
in contravention of our solemn treaty on-
legations" He said the proposed legisla-
ton was marrow. bigoted and indefensi-
bic. We are asked to support it, said
he. because of certain alleged abuses in
California and on the Pacific coast" He
added that had not the senator's from the
Pacific states fathcred the measure .it
might well be attributed to the fertile
brain of some sand lot agitator'
Gallinger maintained that the pending
subject was a matter for diplomatic ne
sotiation and not for congressional ac-
tlon.
Mitchell Ore) inquired of Gallinger
what he thought of the propriety of a for
eign minister criticSng a measure pend
ing before Congress Gallinger replied
that the secretary of state evidently
Foraker tOhio) interrupted to say that
the Chinese minister clearly was within
his rights in writing n letter to Secretary
Hay. the treaty expressly reserved
that right to China.
In conclusion, Gallinger urged that
Congress be just in dealing with China
and extend to that empire the SANE
proper treatment it extends 70 other ma
lions.
Turner CWash) followed Gallinger with
q speech in support Of the pending bill
Turner in replying to Gallinger contenied
that the bill is no more severe than for
mer laws for the restriction of Chinese
indeed he asserted that the
bill is practically re-enactment of ex-
listing law, except that it is more liberal
in the admission of Chinese merchants.
He also declared that every provision of
the bill is in conformity with the treaty
with China and declared that well-mean-
ing Cinnamon could take no exemption
to its provisions
He defended the provision prohibiting
the employment of Chinese crews on YES
sells going to sea, and said that criticism
of 1t is inconsistent with the recent ac-
ton of the Senate in voting the ship sub
sidy bill for the purpose of enabling
American shipowners to pay extra wages
to American sailors.
Turner urged the Incorporation into any
law enacted of the treasury regulation
on Chinese exclusion, declaring that the
fact that Cinnamon. the Pacific steam
ship companies and the trans-continental
companies were opposed to these
regulations was an argument in support
of them
The Senate insisted on its amendments
to the Indian appropriation bill and
Plat (Ct) and Rawlins were
named as the Senate conferees.
Dillingham; addressed the Senate in OPP
position to the Chinese bill. He said he
was heartily in favor of a law which
would exclude Chinese laborers. in ac-
cordance with the treaty of 1894. He
would vote, he said, for a substitute for
the proposed bill which in effect would
continue in force or re-enact the present
Geary law. The law had served an eX-
cellent purpose and was without seri-
ously Objectionable features. He thought
that with two or three minor amendments
the present law would satisfy reasonable
advocates of Chinese exclusion. He he
lieved that the real question presented 10
Congress was how best to protect Ameri-
can labor, American citizenship anil
American progress and prosperity. All
were anxious that such protection should
be afforded The dangers of the admi.s-
sion of Chinese. he thought. had been ex-
and were not so serious as had
been pictured. AL, had agreed that the
operation of the existing law was salts
factory. No good reason had been adj
for a change, which he asserted
would he enormously expensive, as an en-
tirely. new set of machinery for the en-
forcement of the law would have to he
put in motion.
After brief executive session the Sen
ate, at sos p. NJ, adjourned.