Evening star., 1902-01-16
A NEW DEPARTMENT
Proposed That It Shall Be Devoted to
Commerce.
BILL GOES OVER WITHOUT ACTION
Senate Adopts Resolution for Nc
kinIey Services.
CHINESE BILL REPORTED

CHINESE BILL REPORTED
When the Senate convened today it was
decided. on motion of Mr.. Hale (Maine),
that when the Senate adjourned today 1t be
until next Monday.
A bill was reported and passed provid-
ing that persons living in Porto Rico and
the Philippines may execute deeds for prop
erty in the District of Columbia and ter
rftories of the United States.
Gifts to Boer Prisoners.
Mr. Hoar asked that his resolution
adopted yesterday, calling for information
concerning the exactfon of duties upon sup
piles and comforts sent to Boer prisoners
in Bermuda from this country, be recalled.
He explained that the article of The Hague
convention upon which the resolution had
been ba sed had been adopted by Great
Britain. but had not been adopted by the
United States He said he had been in
formed. since the adoption of the resolu-
tton. that the governor of Bermuda propos-
ed to recommend to the legislature of Ber-
muda that the law exacting such duties be
repealed. He said the exaction of such
duties was not violation of treaty obli-
cations. but he thought it a matter
which ought to be investigated
The motion to recall was adopted and the
resolution was referred to the committee
on foreign relations.
Mckinley Memorial Services.
A House concurrent resolution providing
that the two branches of Congress assem-
bic In the ha1l OF the House of Represen-
tatives Thursday. February "a, to partlci-
pate in the services In memory of the late
President Mckinley, the address on that
occasion to be delivered by Secretary of
State John Hay, was called up by Mr.. Kean
and adopted.
Department OF Commerce.
The bill to establish the department of
commerce was called up by Mr.. Nelson
(AInn).
After some minor amendments to the
measure had been offered by Mr.. Nelson
and adopted Mr.. Lodge offered an amend
ment to section IL of the bill providing that
the Secretary of State should designate an
official in his department to furnish in
structions to consular officers supplied by
the secretary Of commerce and to prepare
the dispatches of the consular officers for
transmission to the secretary of commerce
The amendment aroused considerable
comment. all of 1t being favorable to Mr..
Lodges prnpcsftinn.
Mr.. HaIe's Criticism.
Mr.. Hale SHARPLY criticised the bill. He
said the measure suddenly flashed upon
the Senate created the largest department
in the government. 1t did not begin in a
modest way. but ransacked every depart
ment OF the government for important bu-
reaus to dump into this new department.
! The new secretary of commerce would be-
come the most important member of the
cabinet. He would be even a more i'm
pOrtant official than the Secretary of the
Treasury, with all of his great administra-
tive duties.
Many bureaus had been included in the
proposed department that have more re-
lation to commerce than light has to dark
ness He referred particularly to the trans
fer to the new department. of the coast and
geodetic survey. and urged that if that bu-
reaU were changed at all il should be placed
under the Navy Department He referred
to various ''naries'' in the several depart
ments.
This brought Mr.. Tillman to his feet Il
would like to add another navy to those
enumerated by the senator" he said. THAT
Is the army transport service. That is as
suming great proportions and about It ]
have heard some scandal"
Without action the department of COM
mrrCe bill went over.
The Senate passed the House resolution
apprOpriating $4,000 to pay the expense
Uf the government exhibit at the Charles
Ion exposition.
Chinese ExcIusiOn Bill.
Senator Mitchell of Oregon introduced a
hill prepared by the Pacific coast senator's
and representatives for Chinese exclusion
He said that the gentlemen who prepared it
agreed TO its provisions generally. but re-
served the right to offer amendments when
the bin was under consideration
At largely attended meeting this morn
ing of the Pacific coast senator's and rep
rssentatives "A final determination was
reached regarding Chinese exclusion legis-
; lation.z and the following resolution was
adopted:
Resolved, That the Pacific coast sena-
tors and representatives approve the policy
and general provisions of the bill which
they have requested Representative Kahn
10 introduce in the House and Senator
Mitchell in the Senate; but this shall not
affect the privilege of any member to per-
feet the same by amendment
The bill, as subsequently introduced by
Senator Mitchell. was agreed upon AS
finally adopted the insular section reads as
follows:
That from and after the passage of this
act the entry into the American mainland
territory of the United States of Chinese
idborers coming from any of the insuIar
possessions of the United States shall De
absolutely prohibited; and the prohibition
shah apply 10 all Chinese laberers as well
as such as We're in such insular possessions
at the time or times of acquisition thereof
respectively. by the United States or to
those who have come there since, and those
Who have been born there since and those
who may come there hereafter and those
VINO may hereafter be born there
The Senate at 2.27 pm. went into execu-
tive session.
At 2:I-I D. IN. the Senate adjourned