Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-21
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Uncertainty About the Chi
nese Exclusion Bill.
TALKS WITH PRESIDENT
PACIFIC COAST REPRESENTA-
TIvEs FEAR LooPHoLEs.
Gossip About q Minister to Cuba
Some Of the Visitors
Today.
TALKS WITH PRESIDENT

More thorough investigation of the Chi
nese exclusion bill recently passed by the
Senate has disspated the satisfaction which
at first seemed to greet the measure by Pa
cifc coast members of Congress. Repre-
sentatves Kahn and Coombs of California
talked with the President today about the
Senate bill and the status of Chinese exclu-
sion. They are much opposed to the Sen
ate measure, and told the President about
some of its defects. A few days ago. imme-
dfately after the Senate had acted, Mr..
Kahn and other western people were dis
posed to think that the bill would prove
satisfactory with one or two minor excep-
tions. There was a tendency to accept the
Senate measure without effort at material
change, owing to the short time remaining
before the existing exclusion laws expire.
This feeling, however, has undergone a
radical revulsion after thorough sitting of
the proposed law. The California members
think they have discovered a feeling of Ella
ton over the Senate bill by the shrewd
lawyers employed by the Chinese.
This eXcites suspicion and diStrust. The
Chinese employ the best legal talent in the
United States. and if these men can see a
chance for Chinamen in a Sill, that would
naturally arouse suspicion among those in
sisting upon most stringent law.
Preside mt Roosevelt himself favors a law
that will effe ctually exclude and not one
full of loopholes. He hasn't given sufficient
study to the Senate bill to analyze it, but
be would undoubtedly disapprove any legis
lation that did not meet the desired ends
TO be forced to veto a bill with so little
time to sp~re before the old expires would
be exceedingly dangerous, probably letting
in thousands of Cinnamon now waiting in
Canada to make a rush should the bars be
let down, and SO it is deemed safer and
better to amt nd the Senate bill in confer
ence and have it passed in satisfactory
shape before 1t goes to the President The
California and other Pacific coast represen-
tatlVes are going to make hard fight to
get conference bill that will be unobjec-
tionable. They will carry the fight to the
floors of the Senate and House, if necessa-
ry, but they hope to accomplish what they
want without serious trouble delay, as
there is little time left in which to complete
legislation.
President Roosevelt's Life Insurance
Since entering the executive Office of the
nation President Roosevelt has taken out
some extra life insurance. The amount is
not known, but lis reported to- be seJas00;
and was placed in one of the large New
York companies. This was in addition to
policies that the. President had carried
prior to his accession to his present office.
President Mckinley had about SCI 900 in
surance on his life, and President Roose-
velt's various policies probably amount to
more than that. The life insurance COM
pGnies do not take into serious calcula-
tion the extra danger that some people be-
lieve attaches to the occupant of the White
House. The premium on the new policy
is no larger than charged to any other
man, and the company is said to consider
President Roosevelt one of its best risks.
The agent who secured the President as a
policy holder was awarded a special medal
by the company.
The Cuban Mission.
1t will not be long before the President
will be called upon to name a minister
from the United States to the new republic
of Cuba. The office will be an important
one and the honor great The President
has not decided upon any one for the position
and will reserve the selection for the pres
.ent. Owing to numerous important diplo-
matte questions likely to arise Immediately
following the entrance of this country
upon new relations with Cuba the President
is thinking strongly of a man combining
diplomatic experience with knowledge Of
the Spanish language.
He has before him the records of half
dozen men Of this class. These are Henry
l.. Wilson, minister of this country to Chile;
Herbert w. Bowen, former consul general
to Barcelona, minister to Persia. and now
minister to Venezuela; Herbert G. Squiers
secretary of the legation at Pekin; John B.
jackson of New Jersey, second secretary at
Berlin; Francis B. Loomis, minister to Por-
tugal, formerly minister to Venezuela
William w. Rockhill, at present director of
the bureau of American republics and with
long diplomatic experience and fine rec
ord. Mr.. Wilson probably has the best
chance If the President makes his selection
from this list. If the President goes out
side Of this field he will have plenty of ma
terial to select from.
H. Clay Evans will head the list and next
to him would be Gen. E. Burd Grubb OF
New Jersey. Senator Kean is strongly
urging Gen. Grubb who was appointed min
lister to Spain by President Harrison. Gen.
Grubb speaks the Spanish language fluent
iy, is a master of Spanish traditions and a
man of pleasing personality. He would
combine what President Roosevelt wants
in the way of a man for this post. Besides
these qualifications his political backing
would be strong.
The Presidents Visitors.
President Roosevelt had comparatively
few visitors today and was not as badly
rushed as usual. Senator Bate and Rep
resentatives Brownlow, Sims and Padgett
of North Carolina talked with the Presi-
dent about pardon for Tennessee man.
Representative Alexander of Buffalo called
with Postmaster Fred. Greiner of that city.
Senator Heitold called with Gov. Hunt of
Idaho.
Idaho's chief executive was a captain in
the 1st Idaho Regiment during the Spanish
war and served in the Philippines. He
was summoned as witness by the Philip
pine committee of the Senate. Senator
Kearns of Utah, always alert for his con-
stituents. was looking after place for
republican. o. c.. Bebee of Salt Lake is
to be appointed as national bank exam
iner for Utah and Wyoming. Representa-
tives Burleigh of Maine and Foster of
Vermont presented friends, and Senator
Simmons of North Carolina had a short
talk with the President.
c. B. Hart, the minister of this country
to Colombia, paid his respects to the Presi-
dent Mr.. Hart says that Colombia people
are exceedingly busy with their latest revo-
luton.
The Situation at Port Chalmette.
Colonel Enoch H.. Crowdef, who was sent
to Port Chaimette, La, to investigate
charges Of British camp. called at the
White House last night and talked with