The Washington times., 1902-04-05
Provision Relating to ORR
entail Sailors Debated in
Lower Body.
Mr.. KAHN FILES A PROTEST
Senator Platt Offers Amendment Re-en-
acting Present GeaIy Law-Mr. Mitch
ell Defends Proposed Bill-Minister
WI in Diplomatic Gallery.

Jority making 4 number of important
changes in the original Kahn bill, and the
minority report py Mr.. Clark Dem, MOI
favoring the measure as originally agreed
TO by the Representatives of the Pacific
Coast.
One of the most important differences
in the two bills is the provision relating
to Chinese sailors. The original bill pro-
hibits vessels flying the American flag
from employing Chinese sailors. In the
bill as reported by the majority of the
committee this section is stricken out.
An Extended Debate.
The clause yesterday provoked consid-
erable debate, and was one of the prin-
cipal points which Mr.. Clark dwelt upon
in very able speech upon the subject
of Chinese exclusion. He gave notice that
at the proper time he would offer num-
ber of amendments TO the majority bill,
and in the event of their failure would
present the bill approved by the minority
and ask fer its passage instead of the
committees measure.
The substitute is favored by the Pacific
Coast Representatives, and was defended
in a strong speech by Mr.. Kahn, one OF
the Representatives from San Francisco,
and the leading advocate of Chinese ex-
clusion in the House.
Mr. Hit. the chairman of the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs, called up the bill,
which had been made special order, and
outlined briefly its provisions.
He was of the opinion that the admis-
sion of Chinese laborers into this country
would be serious evil. Every effort
has been made to secure the exclusion of
Chinese coolies, and he expressed the be-
lief that the bill before the House was
adequate.
The bill, he said. guards against the
evils existing under the present law,
whereby Chinese gain admission to the
country from the abuse of transit rriy-
ileges This country, he continued. de-
sires to obtain its fair share of commerce
with the East and with China, and in cur
treatment of the privileged classes, the
genuine merchants and students, allowed
by treaty to enter this country, the com
ruittee has endeavored to frame bill
which viii avoid any discourtesy or an
noyance which is not required to prevent
fraud.
Defended Majority Report.
w. Hit was followed by Mr.. Perkins
-Esa- N.Y.. 5as7-hnr of the commit
-a- e.r. lie urcw rr -. Gaj7rifs
f,, aal .ar sc.ia. ..
lai..eo -u striking .l. Che .ol
auar 40 vessels employing Chinese
sa..--
MIR. Clark auNova,S- -.. ..ral rrl.H
bill. He said the matter presented -
question as to how we could act without
irnpairing cur growing trade with China
and yet protect American labor from the
coolie labcr of China.
Hawaii had 10000 Chinese and the Phil
ippines anywhere from 100000 TO 1.75O. coo.
IL by the treaty with Spain. the Supreme
Court. as il might be expected to do,
ruled that these became American citi-
zens. there was nothing to prevent their
locomotion within the United States and
The territory subject to its jurisdiction.
1t was high time, he said, that the
American workingmen awoke to this fact,
and when they did see that they were in
this danger of unrestricted immigration
of Chinese from the Philippines, that
they would rise up and declare that We
cut loose from the islands.
The Pacific Coast Race Question.
The Chinese question. he said. was the
race question of the Pacific Coast; it was
10 that section what the negro question
was 10 the South, except that the negro
question was purely domestic. while the
Chinese question involved an international
matter as we'll.
The people of the South know best how
to deal with the negro question, and he
believed the people of the West knew best
how to deal with the Chinese question.
He was for giving them what they asked
for For this reason Mr.. Clark said he
favored the retention of the clause for
bidding American ships to employ Chinese
sailors.
The majority contended. he said. that
such vessels would go under the BRUSH
flag II the provision were left in.
The great Pacific steamship lines, he
said were simply extensions on water of
the transcontnental railroad lines, and
simply because the United States said
they should not employ Chinese labor.
they would not break off these great con-
nections.
Continuing. Mr. Clark discussed the
Chinese question in general and conclud-
ed with an eloquent appeal for the pro-
lection of American labor against the
cheap coolie labor OF China.
Mr. Adams tRep., Pa.) advocated the
conmittee's bill.
He was followed by Mr. Kahn. who rep
resents the San Francisco district, and is
probably MORE familiar with the Chinese
than any other man in the House.
Mr.. Kahn's Speech.
There are numerous instances in Chi
nesc history" asserted Mr.. Kahn,
where the EnlI error deliberately bribed
the representatives Of foreign countries
and practieed deceit upon his own people
without hesitation CT compunction. As
early as 1896 the British Government sent
an embassy under Lord Mccartney to the
Enperor CHEN LuEG. This potentate,
with q great deal of flourish and ostenta-
tion, graciously condescended TO receive
the English lord. But in order that the
Chinese people might be deceived as to
the true intent of the embassy, Chen
Lung had a flag raised upon Lord Ma
csrtney's Vessel bearing the inscription,
Tribute bearer lrcm the country of Eng
land E"
II was this Characteristic of duplicity,
continued SIR Kahn. which mad rendered
necessary the tightening OF the loopholes
whereby the Chinese have been evading
the exclusion law. They had invented all
kinds of coaching papers. which were sent
TO China 10 enable prospective immigrants
TO evade the cross-questioning of inspec-
tors al various ports OF entry. The re-
centness and wholesale character OF the
perjury thus committed was something
= startling. He quoted from official reports
10 the effect that 5000 Chinese have been
: admitted TO New York and Vermont alone
.upou perjured testimony. he could safely
say that 80 per cent of the cases refused
D.a \