Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-26
Closes Doors Of United States and All
Insular Possessions.
MEASURE INDoRsED BY PACIFIC COAST
Nearly a Counterpart for the Original
Draft Presented,
FEW VITAL CHAVEZ ARE APPARENT
Prohibition Against bpse sailors
on American ships Is Il Nen out,
Thus Permitting EN- ent
of This Kind.

WASHINGTON, March 25.-The .ouse
committee on foreign affairs today COM
pleted consideration Of the Chinese exclu-
sion bill, and by a practically unanimous
vote ordered It favorably reported to the
house The measure has been most care
fully considered for more than month,
and 1t comes from the committee with quite
a number Of changes. The exclusion OF
Chinese laborers is made complete both as
to the mainland territory OF the United
States and all insular possessions, includ-
ing the Philippines and Hawaii. The COM
mittee finally restored the prohibitory
clause recommended by the Pacific coast
senators and members, so that as reported
1t reads: :,
"And the prohibition shall apply to all
Chinese laborers, as we'll as to those VINO
were In such insular possessions at the time
OF acquisition by the United States as to
those who came there since and those who
may be born there hereafter"
Execution I'm Philippines.
In addition the committee framed the fol-
lowing new section, specifically directing
the Philippine commission to put the ex-
clusion law in force:
THAT the Philippine commission is here
by authorized and required to make all reg
ulations necessary for the enforcement Oh
this act In the Philippines"
San Juan, Porto Rico, was struck out from
the list of ports where Chinese may enter
as Il WAS feared there would be chinese
influx at that point owing TO the lack OF
sufacient official force to make careful IN
sneotion. The other more important
changes made by the committee are:
Certificates Of Identification OF Chinese
must be accompanied by photographs at the
expense Of the Chinese. In addition 70
San Francisco and the other ports speclnc-
allv mentioned for the examination and ad-
mission of certain Chinese, the commits
sioner general OF immigration is author
lied to designate such other ports as may
be necessary.
strike out Felony Clause.
The committee considered that the origl-
nal bill was too severe in making 1t TEL
ony for any oficial to neglect to detain
Chinese person, seeking admission, and the
penalty was reduced TO misdemeanor. The
original bill subjected a vessel to fortei-
ture in case II brought over forbidden Chi-
nese, but the committee changed this to a
fine OF 50, 900 against the master or owner
of the ve1sel, and forfeiture IN case the
fine is not paid.
The committee struck out the clause re-
quiring the United States district attor-
ney be present at all deportation proceed
ings ard requiring at least two creditable
witnesses other than Chinese to establish
the right 10 remain in the United States.
The prohibition against Chinese sailors on
American ships was struck out, thus per-
mitting such Chinese sailors to be employed
The term Chinese was made to include
all those who are Chinese by birth or de-
scent, leaving out the reference to mixed
etc. The committee also struck out the fee
OF IS to the United States commissioner
for passing on every case under the act
In other respects the measure is practi-
cally the same as that agreed on by the
Pacific coast interests. with certain amend
nents made from time to time.
After reporting the bill on Thursday
Chairman Nit is hopeful OF bringing 1t t.
early consideration before the house.