The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-04-15
HOUSE PASSES
EXCLUSION BILL
SAILOR CLAUSE INSERTED BY
VOTE AFTER A LIVELY
CONTEST
HAWAIIAN BORN CHINESE ARE
EXCLUDED.
The Question of Their Rights is Left to
The Courts-Northern Boundary
Ports Ruled Out

WASHINGTON. April AT o'clock
this afternoon after a day of wTaugling
over amendments, the Chinese eXcIu-
sion bill was passed by the House by a
viva voce vote. 1t was launched, in
the main, as though the skids were
creased and all props knocked away.
As it went sailing down, Champ Clark
sent up an eChOing cry, claiming the
credit for the Democratic party. But
Chairman Hit of the Foreign Affairs
Committee. in charge Of the bin, rebuk-
ed Clark and said the measure was one
that should have no politics injected
into it, and that Clark might better
have spoken as an American than as a
Democrat. This sentiment was APP
plauded by the whole Republican side.
AS passed the bill practically re-en-
acts all the existing exclusion laws and
Incorporates with them the existing
treaty regulations. 1t extends these
exclusion laws to the Philippines and
the other possessions of the United
States and forbids Chinese labor in our
colonial possessions coming into this
country. The Philippine Commission,
by the terms of the bill is directed to
adopt proper measures for the enforce
ment of the provisions of the bill in the
Philippines.
The bill is a composite. 1t is based on
the original -.ahn bill as agreed upon
by the Pacific Coast delegation, but
differs considerably from that bill in
important particulars. During tOday's
proceedings important amendments
were added, the most notable being one
offered by Kahn, providing that no ves-
sci under American register shall em-
plOy Chinese crews in voyages termi-
mating at an American port. This
amendment was valiantly fought by
such war horses as Cannon of Illinois,
but Kahn had the Republican majority
with him as we'll as a few Democrats,
and the amendment was adopted 100 to
"A. Representative Kahn led the fight
for the amendments, and was through
out accorded close attention and hearty
support. Representative COOmbs sat by
Kahn and gave strong help, Offering
amendments and making several tell
ing speeches. Representatives Metcalf
MCLacklan, Needham and Woods were
all on hand and voted as unit.
When the sections defining the eX-
empted classes came up there was much
debate. Cannon said he believed there
should be more liberality in admitting
Chinese merchants. COOmbs, Kahn and
others declared that the frauds by, chi
nese pretending to be merchants We're
more numerous than any other. Amend
ments to let in representatives Of Chi
neSe houses We're voted down.
When section II, containing a list of
ports of entry for Chinese came M.
Sherman of New York offered an
amendment including Malone and Og
densbuTg, New York; Bridgeport, AL
burgh, Albany and ROxbury, Vermont.
and other points along the northern
border. This was opposed by the watch
ful CaIifornfars Hitt also objected
He declared that the opening of tbe
ports there would render the smuggling
of Chinese easv. and practically nIIIIifv
the law. Kahn pointed ont that tbe
Commissioners General of Immigration
under the bin was authorized t0 name
more ports if he deemed If advisable
So the amendment was voted down.
Champ Clark offered a substitute for
section - to REQUIRE Chinese in the in
suIar territory of the United States TO
procure certificates Of registration with
in twelve months and empowerinay the
Commissioner of Immfgrqtion TO make
rules and regulations for the regisi 81
ton of Chinese in all the insuIar terri
tories except the Philippine Islands.
Section "a of the bill authorizes the
Philippine Commission to make need
feI regulations for enforcing the act in
that Archipelago
The sailors clause came up as an ad-
dition to section 3S. Champ Clark Of
fred an amendment prohibiting the
emplOyment of Chinese on American
vessels Kahn offered another to the
same effect, but also including a pro-
vision that in case of stress of weather
American vessels might engage Chi
nese crews if in place where other
crews could not be obtained. Clark ac-
cepted this as a substitute. Perkins of
New York made point of order against
the amendment that it was not ger
name to the bill. The title of the bin, he
! said, was to prohibit the coming into
and to regulate residence within the
/ United States, etc, of Chinese persons,
the amendment he claimed, had moth
ing to do with prohibiting the entry of
but attempted to keep them off Ameri-