Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-24
OPPOSE EXCLUSION.
Ex.Secretary Foster and Others
Argue Against the Chinese
Exclusion Act.
Pacific Coast Bill a Plain Viola.
ton Of the Treaty With
China.
Hearings Before the Senate
Committee on immigration
Grow Interesting.

OIUW xulCk C0kAuSs
Washington, Jan. 24.-Former Secre-
tary of State John w. Foster appeared
before the senate committee on immi-
slation Thursday and spoke in opposi-
ton to the Chinese exclusion bills which
have been introduced in congress. His
remarks were directed more particularly
to the Mitchell or Pacific coast ON,
which, he said, was a plain violation OF
our treaty with China. Mr.. Foster said
China to modify existing treaties IN the
interest of American citizens, and that
In every instance China had acceded to
our request. He then submitted for the
consideration of the committee three
propositions: The first was that any
law passed by the present congress
which continues the exclusion of Chinese
|laborers beyond 1904 would be not only
without international authority, but
would be in violation of treaty stipula-
tions. He said that during the negotia-
tons resulting in the treaty of 1894 the
United States sought to have the exclu-
sion OF Chinese laborers extended to
twenty years, and that the Chinese gov
ernment refused to make it for more
than ten years. He also insisted that
when the treaty of 1884 came to an end
~. u, t,,o f hl
revived and come into force. which
treaty stipulated for the free and unre-
|stricted emigration Of Chinese of all
classes into the United States. The
treaty, he said. had only been suspended
as to immigration, not abrogated. His
second proposition was that the exclu-
sion laws should not be made applicable
to- all our insular possessions, and said
the Hawaiian islands present the exact
state of affairs which was contemplated
by the American negotiators of the ex-
clusion treaty, when they gave the as
surance that to such condition of at
fairs the exclusion laws would not apply
when all the interests of the islands
asked for Chinese immigration and the
local authorities agreed that it would
not in any way affect white labor. Mr..
Fosters third proposition was that the
|existing exclusion laws and the legisla-
ton proposed are in clear disregard of
treaty stipulations. He cited the provis-
ion of the treaty of 1894, which guaran-
teed to all Chinese in the United States
the most favored nation treatment, and
the provisions of treaties with other ma
tons guaranteeing 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
Minister WI before the committee on
foreign relations last session. in which
be spoke of the indignities and humilia-
tons alleged to have been suffered by
some of his people at the hands Of our
immigration officers.
Major General o. o. Howard siad
endorsed all that Mr.. Foster stated
He had come in contact with the Chi :
nese on the Pacific coast and charac-
terized the alleged undue diligence of
Chinese inspectors in the performance
OF their duties as "among the in
EQUITIES of the present execution of the
exclusion law"
Senator McLaurin, of Mississippi,
asked Mr.. Foster if Mr.. Wu's state
ments were not ex parte.
Mr.. Foster responded that the state
ments had not been contradicted by
the secretary of the treasury or COM
missioner Of immigration. and that
those officers either did not give cred
ence to them or failed in their duty.
Mr.. Foster protested against star
chamber proceedings with respect to
Chinese, saying they were given no
opportunity to go into court and be
heard.
Mr.. Powderly spoke of the matter re-
ferred to by Mr.. Foster. and said that
he thought 1t grew out of an annony-
nous communication. The case. he
said, was investigated and found to be
without scintilla of truth. Mr.. Pow
derby brought to the committee room,
in custody of a United States mar
shall two alleged Chinese merchants,
who. he said, were fair samples.
Thru an interpreter the prisoners,
Lee Sank and Chan Ling, admitted
that they had entrted the United
States In 1897 on forged certificates
alleging that they were merchants,
and that they knew of the deception.
Asked what disposition was to be
made of them, Mr.. Powderly said they
would be given a fair hearing, but that
they would ultimately be deported.
The interpreter, Charles Kee, a
treasurery Official described methods
pursued by a Chinese company of Chi
cago in manufacturing fraudulent GER
tificates
Mr.. Foster protested against what
he termed this spectacular perform
ance." without giving these two pris-
oners an opportunity to appear with
counsel.
Mr.. Richard X. Campbell, Chi
nese inspector, said that. in his opin-
ion, there were 100000 Chinese In the
United States, but Mr.. Campbell
stated that the departments informa-
ton was that the Chinese in this
coyntry numbered at least 100000.
The committee will further consider