The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-04
CHANGES IN
EXCLUSION
LAWS WORK

Washington, oct. 4,-The most inter-
esting subjects discussed at the cabinet
meeting yesterday were, first the Chinese
boycott against American goods, and,
second, the consideration OF complaints
made by the Chinese against the method
of execution Of the existing Chinese Ex-
| cusion laws
The important fact developed was that
the presidents efforts last summer 10
allay the indignation OF the Chinese by
a circular OF instructions to the American
minister 10 China and consular officers
therein had in a measure failed OF its
purpose and required considerable amend
ment 10 secure the object sought.
Minister Rockhil himself resorted that
| II had not been found possible TO carry
| out the instructions contained in the cir
| cular without doing great Injustice 10
| worthy Chinese and imposing burdens too
heavy TO be borne upon the American
consuls
Being freshly back from the Orient.
secretary Taft took prominent part in
the discussion OF this matter when IL was
preached by Secretary Root. and pre-
sented some OF the results OF his obser-
vations on his recent trim
III developed that the requirement that
American consuls identify the Chinese
seeking certificates admitting them TO
american ports imposed task upon
these onicers beyond their ability.
Ihe Chinese applicant frequently came
from some place far distant from the
American consulate aNH the consul was
consequently Obliged 10 refuse TO identi-
~ as proper persons TO be admitted m
the uhted states many very worthy Chi
nese, which, OF course. led TO bitter com.
paint and fostered the boycott feeling
REASONS FOR COMPLAINT.
Then Chinese MERCHANT who das,roa
70 send his son as a shop assistant 20
nus branch store In the United States with
view to ultimately admitting the SON
10 partnership found that the how u,as
barred on the charge that he was
coolie.
chinese living in the British. French
and Portuguese Asiatic colonies heipg
really citizens OF these nations. did NOT
sec why they could not be admitted 20
America under proper passports instead
OF oelng required to produce the un-
popular certihcate. These were only n
few OF the complaints made against tho
administration OF the existing exclusion
law.
The trend OF the opinion I'm the cabinet
meeting was that these complaints. after
all were directed rather against the CON
struction placed upon the law than
against the act itself and esneciallv
against the definition given i'm California
to the term coolie, so II was practically
decided that some important changes in
the present regulations must be made
Yesterdays session was the first regu-
lar meeting Of the cabinet held for some
months and II was one OF the largest
held during the administration of Presi-
dent Roosevelt
1t was attended by all OF the members
Of the cabinet except Secretary Shaw.
who Is absent from the city. and Secretary
Metcaf. who is Ill., II was the fret
cabinet meeting for Secretary Bonaparte
Of the navy and the first as secretary of
state for Mr. Root
"All l did,' said the former jocularIy,
was to listen"
HOW BOYCOTT STARTED.
Mr. Moody discussed the status of the
Beef trust cases. which are being pressed
by the department OF ustlce Postmas-
ter General Cortelyou also conferred over
postoffice appointments
Secretary Taft told the president and
his fellow cabinet officers many things
concerning the views Of the Chinese on
the question Of exclusion. and repeated
the most serious Of the many objections
the Chinese have 10 the American sys-
tenn OF regulating Chinese immigration.
. The Chinese presented TO Secretary Taft
reasons for a change I'm the present sys-
tenn, whereby Chinese might be allowed
to come into the United States on pass
ports from the Chinese government doing
away entirely with the present system
" certificates issued by consular officers
The certificate system has many disad-
vantages. one ~ the greatest Of which is
that Il is handled carelessly opening the
way for frauds
Just who Il was that started the boy
cott has not been established. according
TO all the information Secretary Taft could
get on the subject.
In Hong Kong there was one story and
I'm other places there were others. The
Hong Kong solution of the rather mys-
terious question T. new. II Is that the
family ~ n prominent Chinese. who had
trouble I'm coming into Massachusetts.
started the movement. This man had
credentials from Mr. Choate then the
American ambassador 20 Great Britain.
When he tried 90 gain entrance 10 this
country. on his way 10 China he Rad
great trouble with the imnigra tion people
owing 10 the fact that the certificate he
held from Mr.. Choate was not. I'm some
way made out according 20 regulations
The man went home and his family which
Is powerful. started the anti American
movement