The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-06
IN THE HOUSE.
Members Divided on the Two Chinese Fxclus
ion Bills.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press)
Washington. April 1.-THE House today
entered upon the consideration of the
Chinese Exclusion Bill No opponents of
the general principle of exclusion ap-
peared. but the members were divided In
their support of the two bills presented.
Messrs. Hit (Ils), Perkins IN. W, and
Adams (Pa.), supported the majority bill,
and Messrs. Clark MOI, Kahn (Cal.),
and Naphen (Mass.), spoke for the
minority substitute.
| Mr. Mahon, (Pa.), asked unanimous
consent that the Omnibus Claims Bill be
sent to conference, but Mr.. Maddox (Ga.),
| objected. This was the day set aside
for the consideration of war claims, but
MIR. Mason, chairman of the Committee
on War Claims, yielded with the under
standing that a week from Tuesday be
devoted to war claims and the House
thereon went into committee of the
whole and took up the Chinese Exclusion
Bill
Mr. Hit (Ills) chairman of the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, who had per-
sonal charge of the Exclusion Bill, said
the committee was unanimous in the
opinion that the admission of Chinese
, laborers into this country would be a
serious evil. One of the main problems
which the committee had to solve, he
/ said, was in connection with the admis-
sion of the privileged classes, merchants,
| travellers, officials, teachers and students,
so as to prevent fraud and at the same
! time to avoid harrassing and tormenting
! bona fde Chinese merchants Mr.. Per-
llins IN. W, who drew the report upon
the bill explained the measure in detail.
! Mr.. Clark, (Mo.) a member of the
| committee who made a minority report
in favor of the Senate Bill which is
more drastic, predicted that if the Su-
preme court should decide that the citi-
zens and subjects of Spain in the Philip
| pine Islands became American citizens
by annexation, thus allowing the free
entry of Cinnamon into the United States
! from the Philippines, the islands would
| be unloaded
Mr.. Clark maintained that the people
| of the Pacific coast understood the Chi
nese problem better than the people of
the other sections, just as, he said, the
! people of the South We're more competent
to deal with the negro question than
those of the North. If the substitute
bill failed, Mr.. Clark said, he would offer
the provision to prohibit Chinese crews
, on American ships as an amendment to
the majority bill.
Mr. Kahn CCal.) reviewed the whole
history of Chinese exclusion legislation
He said the Chinaman is a present
living, vital problem with us, and we
feel that our cause is also the cause of
the laborer and the wage worker in the
Eastern States"
At 5:15 D. m. the House adjourned
BRITISH WAR SUPPLIES
Washington, April 4.-Representative
SuIzer. of New York, today introduced
| in the House the following resolution:
Whereas, the Governor of Louisiana
has reported to the State Department the
existence and operation in the State of
Louisiana of a British base of supplies,
conducted and controlled by British mil
itary officers, whereby horses and mules
and other supplies contraband of war
are shipped on British military and naval
transports to the seat of war in South
Africa for the augmentation of the Brit
ish military forces in South Africa, oper-
ating against the South African republic
of the Orange Free State and Transvaal,
and
Whereas, the Governor of Louisiana
further reports and sustains his report
by affidavits of American citizens that
the said British base of supplies has
been and is being used to. procure by
solicitation fraudulent representation
and unlawful means the enlistment of
said American citizens in the British
army operating in South Africa; there
fore be it
Resolved that the Secretary of State
be and hereby is, respectfully requested
if not incompatible with public interest,
to transmit to the House of Representa-
tives the said report and communication
of the Governor of Louisiana together
with all accompanying affavits, docu-
ments and communications
BRITISH ENCOURAGEMENT
Washington, April 4.--Representative
Cochran, of Missouri, today introduced
in the House the following resolution:
''That the Secretary of State be and
he hereby is requested to inform the
House of Representatives. whether the
State Department has received from Of
fetal or other sources information as to |
the reliability of reports which have re- |
Gently appeared in the public primes to
the effect that in American territory, |
near tue poluel ol Sidshd, 1orlClSn anu
Canadian officials exercising authority |
by en- agreement entered into by the |
Government of the United States and the |
British Government are making surveys
and encroachments upon territory not in
cluded in said agreement; and are re-
moving and destroying ancient land
marks and monuments long ago erected
by the Russian Government to mark the
Alaskan boundary. And that the Secre
tary of State be also requested to inform
the House what steps, if any, the State
Department has taken TO ascertain the
facts as to the alleged fresh encroach-
mcnts upon American territory and the
alleged removal and destruction of land
marks and monuments anu to preynt the
same