The news & observer., 1905-12-06

to be built. should be strong and
healthy, sound in body, mind, ana
character. If it be objected that the
Government agents would not always
select well. the answer is that they
would certainly select better than
the agents and brokers of foreign
steamship companies, the people VINO
now do whatever selection is done.
The questions arising in connection
with the Chinese immigration stand by
themselves The conditions in China
are such that the entire Chinese coolie
class, that is, the class of Chinese Ia
borerS, skilled and unskilled. legitl-
mately come under the head of unde>
sirable immigrants to this country, be,
cause of their numbers, the low wages
for which they work. and their low
standard of living. Not only is it to
the interest of this country to keep
them out but the Chinese authorities
do not desire that thev should be ad-
mitted AT present their entrance Is
prohibited by laws amply adequate to
accomplish this purpose. These laws
have been, are being, and will be, tnor-
ougnly enforced. 1he violations or
them are so few i'll number as TO be in
finitessimal and can be enirely disre-
garded. There is no serious proposal
10 alter the immigration laws as re-
CARDS the Chinese laborer, skilled OF
unSkilled, and there is no excuse for
any man feeling or effecting to feel the
slightest alarm on the subject.
but in the effort to carry out the pol
icy of excluding Chinese laborero, CHI
nese coolies. grave injustice and wrons
have been done by this Nation TO the
people OF China, and therefore ulti-
mate!y 10 this Nation itself. Chinese
students. business and professional
men Of al kindS-not only merchants,
but bankers, doctors, manufacturers,
professors, travellers. and the like
should be encouraged to come here
and treated ON precisely the same foot
ing that we treat students. business
men travellers, and the like of other
nations. Our laws and treaties Should
be framed, not SO as to put these people
in the excepted classes, but TO state
that we will admit all Chinese, except
Chinese of the coolie class, Chinese un-
skilled laborers. There would not be
the least danger that any such proVlS-
ion would result n any relaxation OF
the law about laborers. These Will,
under all conditions, be kept out abso-
lutely. But it will be more easy to sec
that both justice and courtesy are
shown. as they ought to be shown, to
other Chinese. if the law or treaty Is
framed as above suggested. E,Xamina-
Of departure from China. For this
purpose there should be provided Il
more adequate consular service in
china than we now have. The appro-
priations, both for the offices of the
ccnsuls and for the Office forces in the
consulates, should be increased.
AS a people we have talked much OF
the omen door in China and we expect,
and quite rightly intend to insist upon,
justice being shown us by the Chinese.
But we can not expect to receive
equity unless we do equity. We can
not ask the Chinese to do to US what
we are unwilling to do to them. They
would have & perfect right 20 exclude
our laboring men il our laboring mell
threaten 20 come into their country in
such numbers as to jeODardl2e the
wel-beiRg of the Chinese population;
and as, mutatiS mutandis. those were
the conditions with which Chinese inn
migration actually brought this people
face to face, we had and have per-
feet right, which the Chinese Govern,
rnent in no way contests. to act as we
have acted IN the matter of restricting
coolie immigration. That this right
exists for each country was 1eXplicitly
acknowledged in the last treaty be-
tween the two countries. But we must
treat the Chinese student, traveller,
broadcast justice and courtesy if we eX-
pect similar treatment to be accorded
to our own people of similar rank who
go to China Much trouble has come
during the past summer from the or
gaffzed boycott against American
goods which has been started in China.
The main factor in producing this boy
colt has been the resentment felt by
the students and business people of
II, laxy oil hn
against the harshness of our law to-
ward educated Cinnamon of the pro-
fessional and business classes
This Government has the friendliest
feeling for China and desires China'S
well-being. We cordially sympathize
with the announced purpose of Japan
to stand for the integrity of China,
Such an attitude tends TO the peace OF
the world.
The Civil Service.
The civil service law has been on the
statute books for twenty-five years.
Every President and a vast majority
of heads of departments who have
been in office during that period have
favored a gradual extension of the
merit system The more thoroughly
it's principles have been understood,
the Greater has been the favor with
which the law has been regarded by
administrative officers. Any attempt
to carry on the great executive depart
ments of the Government withou. this
law would inevitably result in chaos.
The Civil Service Commissioners arc
doing excellent work: and their COM
pensation is inadequate considering
the service they perform.
The statement that the examinations
are not practical in character is
based on a misapprehension of the
practice of the Commission. The de-
partments are invariably consulted as
to the requirements desired and as to
the character of questions that shall
be asked General invitations are fire.
quently sent out to all heads Of de-
partments asking whether any changes
in the scope or character of eXamina-
tions are required. In other words,
the departments prescribe the require-
mentS and the qualifications desired,
and the Civil Service Commission CO.
operates with them in securing per-
sons with these qualifications and in
suring open and impartial competition.
In a large number of examinations Gas,
for example. those for trades posi-
tions) thera are no educational re-
uuirements whatever. and person
who con neither read nor write may
PASS with a high average Vacancies