Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-12-21
Washington
Letter.
Washington. pecem Der 10. 1906.

Washington, Decem Der 10, 1906.
/ Congress assembled December Sc
with every member of the California
delegation present. except congress
man Englebright, who succeed.
Governor-el elect Gillett. The congress
man from the first was UNAVOIDABLE
detained in California by an i'm
portant case which he was to try
before the court.
Every member of congress was more
than usually interested in the forth
coming message of the president.
What shape his views would take on
many important questions was the
subject of much speculation, and
when he delayed presenting the
message until tuesday, the interest
was greatly increased. From Cali
fornia point of view, the president IS
attitude on the question raised by the
San Francisco School Board in regard
to Japanese pupils was of greatest i'm
portance, and when the message ap.
peared, that portion of it relating to
this subject received greatest attention
at the hands of the delegation, though
very great interest in 1t was manifest
ed by all the members of both houses.
10 those familiar with the facts of
the case and with the conditions on
the Pacific coast, it seemed apparent
that the president had been misin-
formed as to the manner IN which the
Japanese have been treated, and
close study of the treaty failed to
show in what respect it has been vio-
lated. The treaty provides that
japanese ''shall enjoy all the rights
and privileges enjoyed by native
citizens" and, as Gone of them have
been excluded from enjoying the
educational facilities provided, it was
asserted that there has been no vio-
lation of the treaty. One of the ways
in which the president proposed to
remedy the mythical condition of
which he complained was that con-
gress should pass an act specifically
providing for the naturalization OF
Japanese; though how this would
benefit those who already "enJoy all
the rights and privileges enjoyed by
native citizens" it is hard to see.
This recommendation did not meet
the approval of the California dele
CATION in congress, the members of
which are of the opinion that rather
than open wider the way to citizen
ship to foreigners it should he
narrowed.
Another point in the message which
excited comment was that the Omitted
States statutes failed to give the
National government sufficiently
ample power through the United
States courts and by the use of the
Army and Navy, to protect aliens in
the rights secule ed under solemn
treaties which are the law of the
land. " This assertion as made in the
face of the provision of the treaty
that Japanese 6 shall have free access
to the courts of justice in pursuit
and defense OF their rights and in all
other matters connected with the ad-
ministration of justice they shall
enjoy all the rights and privileges
enjoyed by native citizens. No one
seemed able to see how the use of the
Army and Navy could further secure
the rights which the Japanese enjoy
in common with American citizens.
This provision of the treaty .appar-
emily renders superfluous the recon-
mendation of the president that 1.-THE
criminal and civil statutes of the
United States be so amended and
added to as to enable the president to
enforce the rights OF aliens under
treaties. ~ In view of the fact that
the courts are now open to the
Japanese, the assertion of the presi-
dent that call of the forces, military
and civil, of the United States. which
| may lawfully employ, will be so
employed" IN enforcing the rights of
alien Japanese, raises the question as
to whether in his opinion, Japanese
have rights which are not accorded to
American citizens.
Another question which has been
brought prominently forward by this
portion of the presidents message Is
that relating to the extent of the
power of the federal government to
interfere with the local laws of the
several states. This point was
brought to the attention of congress
in a resolution by Senator Rayner OF
Maryland, which states there is no
provision in the treaty with Japan
that interferes with the right of the
State of California to conduct and
administer its system of public
schools in accordance with its own
legislation, and calling. upon the
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