The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-22
CHINESE IMMIGRATION.
Gompers, Ford and Others Heard by
the Senate Committee.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-The Senate
committee on immigration gave a hearing
to-day to representatives OF various inter
ests upon the question of Chinese immigra-
ton. Among those present were d. S.
Tompkins. of the Industrial Commission:
Silas b. Webb, president OF the China and
Japan Trading Company. New York; the
Hon. Charles S. Hamlin. Boston Chamber
OF Commerce; Samuel Gompers. the Hon.
John w. Foster. S. c. Mead. assistant sec
rotary Merchants Association. New York;
Theophilus Parsons. Of the Arkwright Club,
Boston; Edward J. Livernash. San Fran
cisco; John Ford. of the Asiatic AssOcia-
ton: H. r. Fuller, representing the rail-
road employees of the United States, and
number of representatives Of Southern in
dustries
MIR Ciompers the first speaker. outlined
the efforts which the Federation of Labor
had made ia connection with the Pacific
coast delegation in Congress 70 perfect
bill which would secure a continuance of
the Chinese exclusion act and this has been
accomplished in what is known as the
Mitchell bill.
Mr.. Ford spoke in opposition TO the bill
and represented statistics Of trade between
China and the United States He urged
postponement of any action by Congress
looking to Chinese exclusion until the ex
piration Of the present treaty In 1904. I'VE
are all interested In being on good terms
WITH C0ltld. he SdlG, ana SnOulO treat HtT
with some degree of consideration. and
some decent regard for international facts"
He said that the Chinese student, Chinese
traveller and Chinese merchant have been
unfairly dealt with. Upon being questioned
he admitted that there is a division of
sentiment among the delegation represent
ed by him. some OF them being perfectly
satisfied with the law it stands
while others are dissatisfied with inter-
probation of the law. He said that the hope
of imbibing American ideas lay in the
Chinese student and the law is hurtful
particularly to this class OF Chinese
Mr. Hamlin presented resolutions of the
Boston Chamber OF Commerce advocating
the Proctor bill continuing in force the
present Chinese exclusion law until the
expiration of the existing treaty with China
in 1901, and urged that no bill be adopted
inconsistent with that treaty. because, he
said. that treaty involves the honor and
faith OF the United States government.
Speaking for the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company. Maxwell Evarts declared that
the Mitchell bill would put a tax on Amer
lean commerce that no subsidy could re-
place. 1t would prohibit the employment
OF Chinese seamen aboard American ships,
and this would result in an enormous diff
ference in the matter of wages. He said
that our commissioners to negotiate a new
Chinese treaty in two years should not be
hampered and embarrassed by the passage
of any new law
number of other gentlemen made brief
remarks for and against the proposed
measures. Ex-Secretary Foster will be
heard next Thursday on the international
phases OF the proposed Chinese exclusion.
Chairman Penrose announced after to-
days hearing that the whole subject would
be gone into very carefully by the COM
mittee.