Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-09
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Validity Of Chinese Exclusion
Act Considered.
KNOX TO GIVE OPINION
PANAMA LEGISLATION TALKED
OVER WITH SENATOR HOPKINS.
Difference of Views as to the Value of
Lands of the Rosebud
Reservation.
KNOX TO GIVE OPINION

| Reservation.
| The question of the validity of the Chi
| nese exclusion laws passed in 1902, in view
| of the denunciation by China of the treaty
| of 1894, is under consideration by Attorney
| General Knox, who will deliver an opinion
| to the President. Mr. Knox has had sew
| eral discussions of the subject with the
President and with republican senators and
| Others The President talked over the mat
| ter with some of his callers today and the
| republican senators will make a thorough
| inv estigation of the situation as to exclu
sion before Congress adjourns. If it Is
| found that the law of 1902 will be ineffect-
| i've with the expiration of the treaty next
| December there is no doubt that an amend
Tent will be made to some of the appro-
| priation bills that will answer the purpose
| that the country demands as to Cinnamon.
| Serator Perkins of California, who was at
| the White House today said that he would
not attempt to set mis- judgment against
that of the law officers of the government,
but it was his belief that the Chinese ex-
clusion laws heretofore enacted would be
effective regardless of the denunciation OF
the treaty. He likewise expressed the opin-
ion that If the Attorney General should de-
eide that existing exclusion laws would be
null upon the denunciation of the treaty
Congress would remedy the defects at this
ses sion. The question is regarded as an
i'm portant one, and the various offcials or
the administration who are interested will
present their opinions.
Senator Patterson and others take the
position that the existing exclusion laws OF
this country inconsistent with the provi-
sions of the treaty just denounced by the
Chinese are null and void.
Panama Legislation About Ready.
Senator Hopkins of the Senate commit
tee on interoceanic canals conferred with
the President this morning about the leg
islation that is about to be presented to
the Senate by his committee governing the
portion of Panama that has been ceded to
the United States. There is a somewhat
thorough agreement among republicans
as to this measure, it is understood, and
the President cOncurs to the main fea-
lures. The bill as it will go to the Senate
gives to the canal commission both legis-
lative and executive authority on the
canal strip and directs the appointment OF
a judge who will carry out the judicial
functions of the government. The Presi-
dent agrees with the Senate committee on
canals that the canal commission should
not have any other authority in conflict
with it and that the responsibility should
be wholly with that body. Under the provi-
sions of the bill the President will desig-
nate one of the members Of the commits
sion the executive authority in the en-
forcement of laws that have been made by
the commission.
The Rosebud Reservation.
Senator Gamble and Representative Mar
tin of South Dakota took up with the Fresi-
dent today the bill for the opening of 49,
COO acres of the Rosebud Indian reservat tion
in South Dakota to settlement The Presi-
dents views as to the prices the lands
would bring are so greatly al variance with
the ideas of the South Dakota members
that attempts far made to secure un-
derstanding have failed. The bill as it
passed the House fixed the price of the
lands for the first six months at So per
acre, and after that at s.. so per acre. The
President has declared that these figures
are not fair prices for the lands, and long
ago intimated that he would veto bill that
came to him with these prices fixed in it.
He feels that So acre for first choice
and a graduated figure for selections after
that would be proper, and stands by his
opinions. The conference today was to as
certain if there had been any changes in
the views of the various persons who will
have something to say to what is to be
done. The President remains firm, and If
the bill is changed in the Senate to suit him
he will put his signature to it, otherwise
he will not 1t is still believed that the diff
ferences can be arranged.
Senator Elkins' Boom.
West Virginia will send solid and en-
thusiastic delegation to Chicago for Sena-
tor Elkins for Vice President" said Rep
resentative Gaines Of that state. at the
White House. today. I'VE are in earnest in
advocating his nomination to second place
on the ticket, and every republican in the
state would be delighted to see this brought
about Not only will the delegates be for
him but will be instructed to support him."
Would Senator Elkins' nomination
strengthen the ticket much as that of a
man from Indiana or the middle west?'
I'VE believe that no better nomina ation for
second place cOud he bap
Elkins. He is big enough for presidential
timber and ought to have been the nominee
of his party for first place long ago. A man
who is big enough for first place ought to
be put on the ticket for second place and
Senator Elkins is that man. His statesman
ship is of the highest order He has the
undisputed friendship of all classes of his
party, and especially of the great business
interests of the United States. He is a big
brainy man in every sense of the word
and his nomination would give as much
strength to the republican ticket as would
that of local man from any of the close
states of the middle west In fact, he would
| make the ticket complete in every way"
Senator Elkns, like Senator Fairbanks,
is doing nothing to push along the boom
for him for second place 1t is understood
that he Is not Indifferent to the compli-
ment paid him by his home people and
those from other states, but he Is no way
| candidate and will not be candidate.
Senator Fairbanks feels the same way
| With Senator Elkins' name mentioned
there are now hve men who are recognized
| as being in the field for second place. with
| votes back of them, either through their
| personal desires or the efforts of their
| friends. These are Senators Elkins and
Fairbanks, Gov. Van Zant of Minnesota
| Cyrus Walbridge of Missouri and John l..
| Webster of Nebraska Minnesota will sum-
| port Van Zant in complimentary manner
| IL he desires the vote of the state in the
| convention, but the really announced cam
| didates for second place are Webster and
| Walbridge.
The President shook hands with a large
| number of visitors during the day Many
| of them were strangers in the city unac-
| companied by introducing agencies and
| others were introduced by senators and
| representatives. The fact that there is no
| great amount of pressing business at this
| time enables the President to extend the
| courtesy of handshake to a good nAny
visitors He has done this for some time
| gratifying several thousand people in the
| last two weeks.
| Virginia Postmasters Appointed.