New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-04
CHINA yEXES CABINET.
Exclusion act Discussed at First
Meeting Since Vacation Time

Washington. oct 3-The chief subjects dis
s,ussed at the Cabinet meeting to-day we're the
Chinese boycott against American goods ana tne
consideration Of complaints made by the Chi
uese against the way tire existing Chinese eK-
cIusio7 laws are enforced by this government
7, 5avalored that the Presidents effort last
su-rr7e- 70 sIlav the indignation ~ the Chinese
tx- = circular Of instructions II the American
ATf-is+A- r, china and consular officers IN that
country had in measure failed Of its purpose
snd required considerable amendment 70 secure
The object sought Minister Rockhin himself
renor1ed that 1T had not been found possible to
carry ont the instructions contained in the circu
lar without doing great injustice 70 worthy Chi
uese and imposing burdens too heavy to be
borne by the American consuls-
Inst bscl from the Orient. Secretary Taft took
g p-ouaf1ert part in the discussion when II was
preached by Secretary Root. and presented some
Of the results Of his observations made on his
recent trip It was said that the requirement
thai American cousuls identify the Chinese
seeking certificates admitting them TO American
ports imposed TOO great & task The Chinese ap-
rlicant frequently came from some place far dis
tant from the American consulate. and the con-
SUI was consequently obliged to refuse to
identify as proper persons to be admitted to the
United States many worthy Chinese. which. of
course. led 70 bitter complaint and fostered the
boycott feeling
A Chinese merchant. also. VINO desired TO send
his son as shop assistant 10 his branch store
IN the United States. with a view 70 admitting
the son ultimately % partnership. found that
the boy was barred on the charge that he was
coolie. Chinese living in the British, French
and Portuguese Asiatic colonies. being really
citizens Of those nations, did not why they
could not be admitted TO America under proper
passports instead Of beng required TO produce
the unpopular certificate These were only
few OF the complaints made against the admin
istratiOn Of the existing Exclusion law The
trend OF opinion IN the Cabinet meeting was
that these complaints. after all. were directed
rather against the construction placed upon the
Jaw than against the act itself, and especially
agains The definition given in California 10 the
term coolie- II vas practically decided that soma
important changes IN the present regulations
must be made.
The session to-day was the first regular meet
ing Of the Caoinet held for some months and
vas unusually long tt was attended by all Of
the mem hers Of the Cabinet except Secretary
Shaw. who is absent from the city, and SecTe-
tsry 8Ietcalf who IS i'll IT was the first Cabinet
meeting for Secretary BOuapaTte Of the Navy
su6 the first. Secretary Of State, for Mr..
Root
hv the President. Secretaries Root and Taft
and Attorney General Moody M Moody took
VI with the President two or three appoint
rnents which were decided upon but their an
a-lcss. He also discussed the status of the Beef
Trust cases. which are being pressed By the De-
paTtnent Of Justice
Postmaster General Cortelyou also conferred
over posLofflCe appointments.
Secretary Root spent some time with the Pres
t6en- Ct the White House tonight, when they
had z general discussion Of matters pertaining
70 the state Department