Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-17
57TH CONGRESS.
Senate Adopts P|att's Chinese
Exclusion Bill, 76 to |.
Substituted for the Original Measure
by Vote Of 48 to 80.
Cuban Reciprocity Friends Score a
Point in the House.

Washington, April 16.-The drastic
Chinese exclusion bill originally
framed by the senators and representa-
tives from the Pacific coast states met
defeat in the Senate, today, and in its
place was substituted a measure offered
by Plat of Connecticut, extending the
provisions of the present exclusion law
| and also applying that exclusion to all
insular territory under the jurisdiction
of the United States. The vote by
which the substitute took the place of
the original bill was: Yeas, As;
nays, SO.
After the substitution had been made
all majors Joined in it's support with
the single exception of Mr.. Hoar, the
substitute being passed, rs to l. The
| friends of the substitute showed their
strength throughout the voting on the
amendment that preceded final action
and succeeded in preventing any ma
terial change in it's features.
Some minor changes were made adj
hitting Chinese persons connected
with national expositions and provid-
| ing for certificates of Identification of
Chinese in our insular possessions.
Otherwise, however, the substitute was
adopted substantially in the form that
Mr.. Platt presented it.
| The Senate after disposing of the
| Chinese exclusion bill made the Phil
ippine civil government bill the unfin-
ished business.
The Senate failed to substitute the
enacting clause of the House bill for
the Senate measure, so that the bill
will now go to the House as an original
measure and from a parliamentary
standpoint will have to be acted on and
treated the same as though the House
| had not passed a Chinese exclusion bill
already.
The Platt amendment to the Chinese
exclusion bill is a substitute for the
entire bill The test vote was upon
this amendment:
'That all laws now in force prohibit
| ing and regulating the coming of Chi
nese persons and persons of Chinese
descent into the United States. and the
residence of such persons therein. be
and the same are hereby extended and
| continued, including the act entitled
| an act to prohibit the coming of Chi
nese laborers to the United States ap
proved Sept. IL. 1888, so far as the same
| is not inconsistent with treaty obliga-
| tons now existing, in full force and
effect until the 18th day of December.
| 1904, and so long as the treaty between
China and the United States, conclud-
ed on March II, 1894, and proclaimed
| by the President on the Sth of Decem-
| Der, 1894, shall continue in force, and
said laws shall apply to all territory
under the jurisdiction of the United
States and to all immigration of Chi
| nese laborers from the islands to the
mainland territory of the United States
or from one portion of the island terri
.ory of the United States to another
portion of said island territory. Pro-
vided, however, that this shall not APP
ply to the transit of Chinese laborers
| from one island to another island Of
the same group or to any islands with
| in the jurisdiction Of any state or of
| the district of Alaska.
Section 2-That in case said treaty
| be terminated as provided in Article 6
thereof. this act and the act hereby
extended and continued shall remain
| in force until there shall be concluded
| between the United States and China
| a new treaty respecting the coming of
| Chinese persons into the United States
and until appropriate laws shall be
passed to carry into effect the pro-
visions thereof.
! Section 3-That the secretary of the
treasury is hereby authorized and en-
powered TO make and prescribe, and
from time to time change, such rules
and regulations he may deem nee
hessary and proper to execute the pro-
4 visions of this act and of the acts here
| by extended and continued and of said
treaty of Dec. s, 1894, and with the APP
prevail of the President to appoint such
agents as he may deem necessary for
the efficient execution Of said treaty
and said acts"
CONTINUED on page ~