Evening star., 1902-01-23
EXCLUSION OF THE CHINESE
EX-SECRETARY FOSTER OPPOSES
THE PENDING BILLS.
Bogus Merchants, who Were Entered
Under Forged Certificates. Appear
Before the Committee.

Ex-Secretary of State John w. Foster ap-
peared before the Senate committee on i'm
migration today and spoke in opposition to
| the Chinese exclusion bills which have been
introduced In Congress. His remarks were
directed more particularly to the Mitchell
or Pacific coast bill, which. he said. was a
plain violation of our treaty with China.
Mr.. Foster said that our government had
four times asked China to modify existing
treaties in the interest of American citizens,
and that in every instance China had ac-
ceded to our request. He then submitted
for the consideration of the committee
three propositions.
Mr.. Fosters Propositions.
The first was that any law passed by the
present Congress which continues the ex-
clusion OF Chinese laborers beyond 1904
would be not only without international au-
thority, but would be in violation of treaty
stipuIations He said that during the nego-
tiations resulting in the treaty of 1894 the
United States sought to have the exclusion
of Chinese IabOrers extended to twenty
years, and that the Chinese government
refused to make it for more than ten years
He also insisted that when the treaty Of
1894 came to an end the Burlingame treaty
of 1858 would be revived and come into
force, which treaty stipulated for the free
and unrestricted immigration of Chinese
of all classes into the United States. That
treaty. he said, had only been suspended
as to immigration, not abrogated.
His second proposition was that the ex-
cluSion laws should not be made applicabl
to all our inSular possessions. and said the
Hawaiian Islands presented the exact state
of affairs which was contemplated by the
American negotiatOrs of the exclusion
treaty when they gave the assurance that
to such a condition of affairs the exclusion
laws would not apply when all the interests
OF the islands asked for Chinese immigra-
ton and the local authorities agreed that
1t would not in ay way affect white labor.
Mr.. Fosters third proposition was that
the existing exclusion laws and the legisla-
tion proposed are in clear disregard of
treaty stipulations. He cited the provision
of the treaty of 1894 which guaranteed to
all Chinese in the United States the most
favored nation treatment and the proyi-
Sions of treaties with other nations guar
anteelng to them the same treatment as to
the protection of their persons and property
as that enjoyed by native citizens
Mr.. Foster read from the remarks of Min
ister WI before the committee on foreign
relations last session, in which he spoke of
the 1nd1gnities and humiliations alleged to
have been suffered by some Of his people
at the hands of our immigration officers
General Howard's Indorsement.
Maj. Gen. 0. o. Howard said he indorsed
all that Mr.. Foster had stated He had
Pacific coast, and characterized the alleged
undue diligence of Chinese inspectors In the
performance of their duties as "among The
iniquit1es of the present execution Of the
exclusion law
Senator McLaurin of Mississippi asked
Mr. Foster If Mr.. Wu's statements were
not eX parte.
had not been contradicted by the Secretary
OF the treasury or the commissioner Of i'm
migration and that those officers either did
not give credence to them or failed in their
duty. Mr. Foster protested against star
chamber proceedings with respect to Chi
nese. saying they were given no opportunity
to go into court and be heard.
Two Bogus Chinese Merchants.
Mr. Powderly the commissioner of immi-
grafton. spoke of the matter referred to by
Mr.. Foster. and said he thought It grew
out of an anonymous communication The
case. he said. was investigated and found
to be without scintilla of truth. Mr. Pow.
derly brought to the committee room in
custody of a United States marshal two al
legged Chinese merchants. who he said
were fair samples of the merchants Min
iSter WI referred to.
Through an Interpreter the prisoners, Lee
Sang and Chan Ling, admitted that they
had entered the United States in 1897 on
forged certificates alleging that they were
merchants, and that they knew of the de-
ception.
Asked what disposition was to be made
of them, Mr.. Powderiy said they would be
given fair hearing. but that they would
ultimately be deported
The interpreter. Charles Kee, a treasury
official, described methods pursued by a
Chinese company of Chicago in manufac-
turing fraudulent certificates
Mr.. Foster protested against what he
termed this spectacular performance"
without giving these two prisoners an op-
portunity to appear with counsel
Mr.. Richard K. Campbell, Chinese in
spector. said that In his opinion there were
100000 Chinese in the United States who
were admitted on false certificates
Mr.. Foster contended that there were
only $1,000 Chinese in the United States
but Mr; Campbell stated that the depart
ment's Information was that the Chinese in
this country numbered at least 100000
The committee will further consider the