The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-27
THE CHINESE EXCLUSION BILLS

The hearing before the senate commit
tee on immigration on the Chinese ex-
clusion bills. reveals pretty strong SEN
timent against drastic legislation, such
as is embodied in Senator Mitchell's bill
and that introduced by Mr.. Kahn of Cali
1ornia in the house. A very proper OBJ
lection is made to the passage Of such
measures before our treaty with China ex-
pires in 1904 Ex-secretary Of State John
w. Foster suggested to the senate COM
mittee that the extension of exclusion be-
yond the date of the expiration Of the
present law (Geary) would be in viola
ton Of treaty, stipulations and without
international authority. The Geary law,
indeed, which is rather drastic, was passed
to the statute books two years before the
present treaty was negotiated and put in
operation, and it does not comply With the
terms Of the treaty altogether The
Mitchell bill strikes at classes Of Chinese
immigrants who are exempted from moles
tation by the Geary law. The latter as
we'll as the treaty gives students and tray
elers the right to reside in this country
If they wish. The Mitchell bill requires
these classes to leave the United States
as soon as they complete their particular
business. The Proctor bill is more rea-
sonable than the others, as it provides
for the extension Of the present law two
years, or until the treaty expires, when
the subject Of exclusion and a commercial
treaty with China can be taken up in due
order. The American Asiatic Association,
through Mr.. Ford, its secretary, stated
to the senate committee that the asso-'
citation supports the Proctor bill, knowing
as they do that any legislation making
more drastic regulations as to Chinese
immigration might compel the Chinese
government to retaliate and refuse us the
favored nation clause and business Is SO
we'll organized in guilds in that country
that their hostility would be ruipous to
our commerce which has been laboriously
built up there, and which. as to cotton
goods, is becoming Of the largest impor-
lance to the southern cotton manufac-
turers, who, since the fall of Peking, have
sold nearly 100000 bales Of their products
to China.
; The desirability Of excluding Chinese
laborers is admitted, but there Is no JUS
tice, in putting very drastic legislation
upon the books two years before a treaty
expires which expressly guarantees to
all Cinnamon in this country the most
favored nation consideration and treat
ment, which includes protection of their
persons and property. So long as the
treaty of 1894 stands. the drastic legisla-
ton proposed is in direct violation of it's
terms and should not be considered.
A great nation like ours is bound to
maintain its agreements with Cinnamon
as we'll as other nations. The Proctor bill
is in keeping with the honor and dignity
of this nation. 1t properly extends the
Gea1y law two years or until the expira-
ton Of the treaty Of 1894 It will be
perfectly proper then to consider and
effectuate new law in accordance with
the terms of a new treaty which will be
negotiated. Our representative in the
negotiation of commercial treaties with
China, Mr. T. S. Sharretts, has begun his
work on the new tariff schedules Jointly
with the commissioners Of other powers,
and they expect to adjust even such diff
cult questions as the interior likin taxes
and open the interior of China to the
commerce Of civilized nations. This is no
time to stimulate the hostility Of China