Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-17
A WEEK IN CONGRESS.
Drastic Chin ese Exclusion Bill Defeated
in the Senate.

The Senate Thursday considered and
passed the postotfice appropriation bill,
and then resumed the debate On the CHI
nese exclusion measure. Early in the ses-
sion Mr.. Depew of New York spoke brief
ly against the adoption Of the resolution
providing for the election of senators by
popular vote. In effect, he served notice
On those States which had limited Their
suffrage that if the resolution was enacted
a demand would be made en- them to ac-
cord all their citizens the right to vote, or
suffer d loss of repreSC natives in Congress
I he House continued the debate on Cuban
reciprC city, the chief feature being the
speech of General Grosvenor OF Ohio, who
defended the principle of reciprocity, and
declared that tariff schedules were not
sacred. He predicted that the time wou
come. although it had not yet arrived,
when there would be an ineXorabe demand
for revision of the present rates
In the Senate Friday an agreement was
reached that d vote should be taken on tn
Chinese exclusion bill on Wednesday at
p. m. Mr. Dcpews speech on Thursday
concerning the proposal for the election
of scnetors by popular vote presiptated
q lively debate, several of the Southern
senators defending the election laws Of
their States. The House continued the
debate Oh the Cuban reciprocity bill, the
principal speeches being made by Mr..
end means committee, who from the first
ardently supported the proposition for re-
ciprocity, and who originally favored a
reduction of 40 per cent, and by Mr. Shaf-
roth o: Colorado, who vigorously opposed
the bill
The feature of the Chinese exclusion de-
bate in the Senate on Saturday was a
sharp criticism Of the Chinese minister,
by Mr.. Mitchell of oregon, and Mr.. Teller
of Colorado, because of his protest to the
secretary of state against the enactment
Of the pending bill. Mr. Foraker of Ohio,
and Mr.. Hoar Of Massachusetts insisted
hat the Chinese minister had done no more
II IN his duty, and that he would have been
dcrelict of his duty had he done less. MI
Lodge of Massachusetts delivered a speech
IN SUPPORT of the bill. The Hose on Satur-
day passed the Senate bill placing the PEN
sion to Mrs Mckinley at $1,000 per year,
Although favorable action on tn measure
was unanimous, Mr.. Bell of Colorado
aised objections TO the pension which p' o.
voked sharp discussion Mr. Richardson of
Tennessee and several other democratic
members spoke for the bill, Mr.. Klcbelg
of Texas, an eX-Confederate soldier, 81 p
porting 1t on the ground that president Nc
Kinley had wiped out the last vestige of
sectionalism. The day was devoted to pri-
vate pension bills, III being passed.
| The Senate Monday revoted Itself to the
debate on the Chinese exclusion bill, Sena-
tors Foraker and McLaurn of South Caro-
lima making extended speeches in opposl-
| ton, to which Mr. Teller responded. Mr..
| lodSe gave notice of an amendment Strk-
ing out the much discussed clause prohibit
ing the employment of Chinese sailors on
American ships. The House listened to
speeches for and against the Cucan reel
prooity measure That the republican oppo-
city measure. That the republican oppo-
nents of the bill are determined to prolong
the struggle as much as possible was made
manifest by their refusal to allow speeches
to be printed in the Record The confer
! enCe report on the poStOfflce appropriation
| bill was adopted.
| The Scnat" TUESDAY practically oonclul
i the debate on the CT incse exclusion hill
| fy general c. rScnt, a vote was taken or
tw" important amendments offered by MIR
| Fairbanks of Indiana, striking out th-
| definition rs to Chinese students and
| teachers, and they Were Ggrecd tc without
division. The debate in the House on tn
| Cuban reciprocity measure was without
special fratui g. An unsuccessful! effort was
| made by Mr.. Payne to secure n agr"e
mcnt to limit the general debate, At the
close Of the session there remained ),
members who desire to sItak. 1t was an
nounced that TIE entire republican dcleea
ton from Michigan and California. whI
C institute the head and frnE; OF the oppo
sitiOn, had agreed not to vote to oVerri1'
tho ruling of the chair against genera
| tariff amendments, and it is said this
means the passage of the bill
| The drastic exclusion bill original
| ly framed by the senator's ans
prrsentatives from the Pacific coast
States met defeat in the Sonete ycstcr'
day and in its place was substituted a nea
sure offered by Mr., Platt of Connecticut
extending the provisions of the present
exclusion law and applyrrg that exclusion