Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-14
TOC0NFER TOMORROW
Mayor Schmitz Will See the
President Again.
SETTLING SCHOOL DISPUTE
Amendment to immigration Bill
Satisfactory.
JAPAN REGARDS IT WITH FAVOR
Shutting the Door Against Those
Who Have Gone to Our In
sular Possessions.

The Japanese school controversy Is set
tied so far as President Roosevelt, Mayor
Schmitz and the members of the San Fran
cisco school board are concerned. An ami
cable adjustment of the question now rests
with Congress. If the amendment to the
immigration bill, proposed by Secretary
Root, excluding foreigners who use their
passports to secure admission to the United
States Ito the detriment of labor conditions
in this country is adopted by the Senate
and House and the immigration bill Is
passed at this session of Congress the San
Francisco board of education will rescind
its order establishing the oriental schools,
unless the Japanese government agrees to
proposition for separate schools which
will provide equal facilities for the Japa-
nese children.
Approved by Japan.
1t became known today through infor-
nation impaired in official circles that
Japan regards with favor the amendment
which 1t is proposed to add to the imigra-
ton bill, now pending in Congress. and
which in effect prevents the entry into this
country of japanese coolies In fact. 1t
is stated that the suggestion that this be
done first came from Japan. which never
has approved of the emigration of large
numbers of her subjects to foreign lands.
The proposition being satisfactory to both
the japanese government and the CAN
fornia authorities, it is agreed on all sides
as being most happy solution of the prob
lem which for time gave rise to so much
concern.
Conference Yesterday.
Mayor Schmtz and his associates had a
conference with the President yesterday
afternoon and assured Mr.. Roosevelt that
the amendment to the immigration bill was
entirely satisfactory to them. Secretary
Root participated in the conference and
made a report on his negotiations with the
republican leaders in Congress and the Jap
anese ambassador. While Mayor SchmitZ
and the members of the school board are
still hopeful that ViscOunt Aoki, the Japa-
nese ambassador. will agree to separate
schools in California they stand willing to
rescind the order establishing the oriental
schools and again admit japanese children
to the white schools. Mayor Schmitz point
ed out to President Roosevelt and Secretary
Root the advantages that will be gained by
the Japanese children If the oriental schools
are maintained and expressed willingness
to give the Japanese equal educational IA
cilities to those given to white children Of
San Francisco. If the Japanese government
will agree to this proposition the school
board will establish a sufficient number of
oriental school houses to accommodate the
Japanese and will give the children indi-
vidual instruction. Mayor Schmitz says
that the Japanese make faster progress in
the oriental schools than they do in the
white schools and that in the mixed schools
the Japanese only retard the progress Of
the white children.
Another conference will be held at the
White House tomorrow and In the mean
time President Roosevelt hopes to be able
to give Mayor Schmitz and his associates
assurance that the immigration bill, includ-
ing the exclusion amendment, will be passed
at this session of Congress.
The School Dispute.
Secretary Root will ascertain the attitude
of the Japanese government on Mayor
Schmitz's proposition for separate schools
and the mayors assurance that the Japa
nese are not to be Disseminated against,
but are to have equal educational advan-
tages with the white children. If the propo-
sition does not meet with Ambassador
Aoki's views the school board will abolish
the oriental schools. The only thing that
will prevent an amicable settlement of the
whole question on Friday will be the I'M
willingness of Congress to pass the immi
grafton bill. This, it can be stated on the
highest official authority, is now the only
possible hitch that can be encountered in
the negotiations
The provision in the immgra ton bill con-
ference report which bars the use Of pass
ports granted by foreign countries for the
admission of their subjects into the inSular
possessions of the United States and the
aid the administration in adjusting the Cali
fornia situation, is regarded with favor by
the senators and representatives in Con-
gress from that state. However, it Is not
held that the provision goes as far as the
demands California has made regarding. the
exclusion of Japanese labOrers from the
United States. Nothing in this provision
excludes such laborers from ports of the
United States. --...
Approved by Californians.
In discussing the question last night
Mayor Schmitz said
1.-The proposed amendment to the immi-
grafton bill meets with our approval so far
as the question of excluding coolie labor is
concerned 1t is step in the right direc-
ton. But the school question has not been
definitely settled and ! do not want it I'M
derstood that We have accepted the immi-
grafton clause as a price to recede in the
school controversy. While, as 1 have said
all along we are willing to make any con-
cessions that we believe are for the good
of the country. we want to reach an agree
ment, If possible, for the maintenance Of
the separate schools with an understanding
that the Japanese are to have the same
facilities as the white children. We stand
willing to build additional school houses in
sections of the city where they will be con-
venient to the Japanese children. We hope
to reach an agreement at Fridays confer
ence that will provide for separate schools.
One thing is certain-we will never agree to
admit adult Japanese to the white schools.
I believe an agreement will be reached Fri
day.
The congressional delegation from Cali
fornia is in the attitude of having Mayor
Schmitz and the San Francisco school board
as direct intermediary in the conduct of the
MI