Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-08
57TH CONGRESS-.
The Chinese Exclusion Bill
Passed by the House.
War Revenue Tax Repeal Bill Now
Goes to the President.
House Votes to Extend National Bank
Charters 20 Years.

after Incorporating in il several
amendments which include the drastic
cha racter of the measure The prin-
cipal one not only excludes Chinese by
birth and descent, but also those of
mixed blood. The chief struggle was
over an amendment to prohibit the
employment of Chinese sailors on
American ships. An amendment COW
ering the proposition at first was ruled
out on a point of order, but subse-
quently was modified to evade the ruI-
ing and was adopted, 100 to a.
AS passed the bill practically re-
enacts all the existing exclusion laws
and incorporates with them the exist
ing treasury regulations. 1t extends
these exclusion laws to the Philippines
ard the other possessions of the Unit
ed States and forbids Chinese laborers
in our colonial possessions coming into
this country. The Philippine commits
sion, by the terms of the bill, is direct
ed to adopt proper measures for the
enforcement of the provisions of the
bill in the Philippines.
The conference report on the war
| revenue tax repeal bill was adopted
and the bill sent to the White House.
Late in the afternoon, Fowler of New
Jersey, moved to pass under suspension
of the rules the Senate bill to extend
the charters of national banks for 20
years. The Democrats were taken COM
| pletely by surprise. AS it was after
| the usual hour for adjournment the
| attendance was slim. The Democrats
attempted to filibuster, but call Of
the House finally secured a quorum
and the bill was passed.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal, the House proceeded with the
| consideration of the Chinese exclusion
bill. General debate having closed, the
bill was read for amendment under
the 5-minute rule.
Kleiburg, Tex. said that much as he
would like to vote for the bill he could
mot do SO unless the provision prohibit
| ing the coming to the United States of
Chinese bonn in Hawaii and the Philip
pines since their acquisition, was
stricken out.
The supreme court had decided in
| the Wong Kim Ark case that the Chi
nese born in this country were Ameri-
can citizens. He thought that decision
| fixed the status of such children in our
lnsular possession and unless the pro-
vision went out he would be forced to
vote against the bill.
Naphen, Mass, moved to strike the
provision from the bill
Hit said that he shared to certain
extent the views of Kleberg but
thought the provision should remain in
the bill in order that the question
might be passed on in the courts.
Naphen's motion was lost Two
amendments were adopted without divis-
ion, one by Clark (Mo.) to amend the
| definition of the word teacher under
the privileged classes. so to require
| that for two years before admission the
| teacher should have been engaged in
teaching the higher branches and an
other by Coombs (Cal) to provide that
Chinese students shall leave the country
| immediat ely upon the completion of their
course of study. The amendments ue-
signed to perfect the language of the bill
which had been agreed upon by the COM
mittee and the California delegation,
were adopted.
Clark Mo.) offered the amendment pro-
hibitinS the employment of Chinese Ia
borers on American ships. as follows:
And it shall be unlawful for any yes
sci holding an American charter to have
| or to employ in its crew any Chinese per
son not entitled to admission to the Unit
ed States. or into the portion of the ter
| ritory of the United States to which such
vessel plies; and any violation of his pro-
vision shall be punishable by fine not
exceeding $1,000
Clark made strong plea for the
amendment. declaring that the purpose Of
| the exclusion bill was to protect Ameri-
can labor. His amendment, he said was
to protect American sailors. The amend
ment was subsequently broadened to pro-
vide for the temporary employment of
Chinese sailors whore a vessel in distress
has lost part of her crew. Against the
| modified amendment. Perkins IN. Y)
raised the point of order that it was not
germane and Moody (Mass.) sustained the
point, but in the course of his ruling in
dictated how the amendment might be
made gcrmane.
Thereupon Kahn (Cal) modified the
amendment to make it conform to the
ruling of the Chair his modified amend
ment providing that it should be unlaw-
full for an American ship for a voyage
terminating at an American port to en-
plOy Chinese sailors.
Hit vigorously opposed the amendment.
He declared that such a provision would
drive the American ships on the Pacific
under the British flag.
Clark served notice that if the provision
was defeated he would offer it as an
amendment to the ship subsidy bill.
At this point the committee arose 70
permit Payne, the majority leader, to
call up the conference report on the war
Richardson. the Democratic member OF
the House conferees, explained why he
declined to sign the report. He said the
Democrats did not believe that all the
war revenue taxes should be repealed and
taxes on the necessaries of life remain
Payne. in reply. said that he had opposed
the Senate amendment because he did not
believe in taxing the small gamblers and
allowing the big ones to go scot free.
Besides said he, I'VE promised the peo-
pie that we would remove every vestige
of the war taxes and We want to keep
our promise"
The report was adopted without divis-
ion.
Consideration of the pending amend
ment to the exclusion act was then re-
sumed. Cannon agreed with Hit that
the adoption of this provision would force
American ships to sail under foreign reg
ister The amendment was adopted on
a vote by tellers, 100 to "a.
On motion of Clark fMO.), an amend
ment was adopted adding to the bill;
definition of Chinese those of mixed Chi
nese blood. Clark announced that as the
main features of the minority bill had
been placed upon the majority bill and in
that way had made it more drastic than
the original majority bill. he would not |
ask for vote upon the substitute. As |