The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-07-06
{Mail Special to the Advertiser.)


WASHINGTON, D. c., June "a
The immigration question, considered
of Importance in recent months, has
been looming into more prominence
here in the last few days. China may
become a strong factor in forcing
general AMEN immigration law at the
next session of Congress. 1t might
seem improbable that all the prejudice
and all the powerful influences that
are arrayed against the admission of
Chinese, could be pushed aside for such
a purpose. However, genuine alarm
exists in the administrator about the
threatened hcvcctt of American goods
IN China. Ict!ay President Roosevelt
made public a telegram he had just
received from the Portland Chamber
of Commerce, appealing for a more
liberal Interpretation of the Chinese
laws. Yesterday the cabinet, at prac-
italy its last meeting for the summer,
had a long and earnest discussion OF
the matter 1t was stated today at the
White House offices that by early next
week the President would take some
decisive action.
All that, Of course, will be known in
Honolulu before this letter reaches
there. But the bearing of this and
future actions can be well kept IN
mind, because of the trend towards the
enactmer3 Of a general immigration
law by Congress. At the Chinese lega-
ton t is declared that the last trea-
ty with this government was ratified
as a favor to the United States. When
a treaty was attempted some SIX
months ago, Secretary Metealf of the
Department of Commerce and Labor,
being a Californian, would listen to no
provisions likely to be unpopular on
the Pacific Coast, with the result that
the treaty was killed.
Now the threatening attitude of the
Chinese is apparent on every hand.
The Chinese legation here says it is
not at all probable at present that
China would accept the treaty which
1t proposed six months ago. The prin-
ciple the Chinese government feels dis
posed to put forward is that there shall
be no special discrimination against
Chinese. As matters now stand, China,
they say, has right to claim the same
treatment from the United States as
the most favored nation. If the Unit
ed States wants to enact a law that
will raise barriers to all laborers of
the coolie class, well and good. China
viii make no objections. But their
government holds that unless gener- :
81 alien immigration law is passed the
boycott, now threatened, will go into
effect. All this makes the situation .
serious from the administration g
standpoint and particularly interesting
from the standpoint of Hawaii, al
though 1t may not presage the freer
admission Of Chinese laborers into the
Islands. But if the entire subject is
to be opened up before Congress, an
opportunity might come to secure Chi
nese labor for the islands along lines
heretofore planned put up to the pres
ent time impossible because of the
hostility IN Congress to opening the
Chinese question ii any form whatso-
ever. :
1t is beIleved here that former Min
lister Wa Ting Fang is taking a hand
IN the situation from the Oriental side.
He had very pronounced views on the
subject, when stationed here in Wash
Ington and took occasion to observe
conditions IN this country, commercial
ly and otherwise, with great detail.
His advice to the Chinese authorities
at this time as to methods Of bringing
this country to terms probably would
De more Intelligent than that or any
other of his countrymen.
HAWAII's REFUNDING BONDS.
President Roosevelt approved yester-
DAY, June %, the issue of 100000 Of
refunding bonds for Hawaii. This Is
regarded at the Interior Department
as putting the issue on sure footing.
1t will probably be an easy matt9r
now to market the bonus in New York
OR some other financial center on ad-
vantageous terms. The application to
the President was for only 5000, 1000,
because, as represented to the Interior
department. the territory expected to
pay about 100000 of these bonds now
outstanding from revenues on hand or
an early prospect.
GOV. cARTER's RESIGNATION.
The news of Gov. Carter's resigna-'