The Washington times., 1905-06-26
NO D|SCOURTES|ES
TO EXEMPT CHINESE
President Mitigates Harsh
ness of Exclusion Laws.
INSPECTORS TO BE coURTEo
Minister and Consuls in China Must
Exercise Care in Indorsing
Certificates.

Certificates.
Responding to the appeals of hundreds
OF cotton manufacturers and a number
of boards OF trade and chambers OF com
merce throughout the Uuited States
President Roosevelt has toned down the
harshness OF the Chinese exclusion law.
as applied to what is known as the ex-
empt classes Of Chinese
He has warned the immigration in
spectors throughout the United States.
on pain OF dismissal. against discourte-
sies TO Chinese who bear certificates
from their governments showing they
are members OF exempt classes.
The President has also directed.
through the State Department. that
American ministers and consuls in China
use the utmost care in examining certi-
hcates Issued by the Chinese govern
naent before indorsing them, as they
are required by law 70 do.
Tho Presidents announcement of the
policy TO be pursued by this Government
toward the Chinese or other than the
coolie classes was made yesterday. L.
IS IN the form Of an order to the acting
Secretary of State
ment 20 indicate the reasons for its
tssue- IL Is weil known that the threat
ened Chinese boycott of American made
goods was directly responsible for the
stand the President has taken in the
matter
So wrought up had the cotton manu-
factnrers and the Pacific Coast ship
pe-s become over the Chinese threats
that for weeks past the President has
been oonosrde6 Wit, letters and tele-
grams urging him to do something TO
save the American export trade to
China Realizing the seriousness of
the situation the President set about
looking for a means tc prevent China 8
carrying out her threat August was the
date set for the declaration of the boy
colt
Metcalf Overruled.
One part of the Presidents statement
Is a direct overruling of Secretary Met
calf. of the Department of Commerce
and Labor. That is the order to the
immigration officers.
Secretary Metcalf has, ever since the
Chinese matter came up. maintained
strongly that there was no fault with
the administration of the exclusion
laws by the immigration inspectors. In
his his. letter sa = 20 the President on this sub
he declares, have been forced to a strict
administration of the laws because of
the large number OF fraudulent Chinese
certificates that have been presented to
them.
The President goes against Mr.. Met
calf in this and orderssins no. doubtful
terms that the inspectors are to he
courteous at all times to the bearers of
certificates, which Show that they are
Chinese Of the exempt class.
IN NIL d-
merce and Labor, however, when it
comes to dealing with American min
listers and .consuls in China AS Wig
orous as his order to immigration in
spectors is his order to the ministers
and consuls.
Under the law it is their duty to
nese government to Chinese Of the ex-
empt class who intend coming to Amer
lea 1t Is the opinion of Secretary
Metcalf that our diplomatic and con-
suiar Representatives in China have
been undulY lax in their attention to
this part of their official work. and
that they, have failed to examine close
1y all certificates that have been pre-
sented for their wise @ts
The Views of Secretary Metcalf on
this phase Of the question are adopted
s There is no letting down of the bars
for the Chinese Of the coolie class. The
class of Chinese is absolutely prohib-
lied by law from coming into the
United States at all, and that the
coolies are not considered in his order,
which refers only to the travellers. pro-
fessional men, artists, students, and
merchants.
The Presidents Order
The Presidents order is as follow:
The White House,
Washington, June q, 1906.
ITO the Acting Secretary of State:
The State Department viii imme
l+1tx- .fv.
lomatic and consular representatives In
China setting forth the following facts.
and stating that it is issued by direct
order of the President:
Under the laws of the United States
and in accordance with the spirit Of
the treaties negotiated between the
United States and China all Chinese
of the coolie or laboring class--that is
all Chinese laborers. skilled or un-
skiiled-are absolutely prohibited from
coming to the United States, but the
purpose of the Government of the
United States is to show the widest and
heartiest courtesy toward all merchants,
teachers, students, and travellers, who
may come TO the United States as well
sentatiyes in any capacity Of the Chinese
government. All individuals OF these
classes are allowed to come and 20 OF
their own free will and accord and are
70 De given all the rights privileges
immunities, and exemptions accorded
the citizens and subjects of the most
Favored nation. The President has is
sued special Instructions through the
secretary of Commerce and Labor. that
Wnlie laborers must be strictly excIud,
ed. the law must be enforced without
harshness, and that all unnecessary In
convenience and annoyance toward
lnose persons entitled TO enter the
on1teo states must be scrupuIously
avoided. The officials of the Inmigra-
lon department have been told that
no harsi1ness in the administra ton of
sae law VIII for a moment be toiera ted
dhd that any discourtesy shown to Chi
nese persons by any official Of the Gov
ernfnent Will be cause for Immediate dis
missai from the service
he status of those Chinese entitled
Freely 10 enter the United States is
primarily determined by the certificate
pTovioed for under section 6 of the act
OF July D. 1884. Under this law the
diplomatic and consular representatives
OF the United States have by direction
or the President, been Instructed be-
Tore yiseing any certificate strictly TO
comply with the requirements of that
portion OF section g. which provides as
follows.
Requirements Of the Law.
And such diplomatic representative
or consular representative whose in
dorsement is SO required is hereby en-