Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-09
BLUELAWSMGOTHAM ASKS A SHIP SUBSIDY
Secretary Straus Urges Scheme
 In His Annual Report.
CHAMPIONS CAPITALIZATION.
Recommends a Full and Fair Consider ation of Chinese Immigration and Recastins of Laws Relating to Mon
 eoIian Exclusion Upon a Juster Basis.

| dtioH VT SHlHeSc IHiTnlSTdtioH dHu
 Reoastins of Laws Relating to Mon
 eoIian Exclusion Upon a Juster Basis.
 Washington, Dec. 9.-Oscar S. Straus,
 out his report on his first year in that
 office. MT. Straus in that time has
 made an extensive tour of investiga-
 tion of various stations under his con-
 trol and has established many reforms,
 particularly in the immigrant service.
 MT. Straus reports that the total
 number of aliens admitted during the
 year was 1,2S5,349, which exceeded
 that for the fiscal year 1906 by 1884,
 GA and that for the fiscal year 1905 by
 5S,S50. During the year 13,064 aliens
 were rejected, an increase over the re-
 jections for the fiscal year 1906 of 632.
 Much space is devoted to considera- ton of the Chinese exclusion policy. He disclaims any idea of interfering with the present policy.
 Tt has never been the purpose of the government, as would appear from it's laws and treaties," he says, ito ex- clude persons of the Chinese race merely because they are Chinese re- gardless of the class to which they be- long and without reference to their age, sex, culture or occupation or to the object of their coming or their length of stay. The real purpose of the governments policy is to exclude a particular and we'll defined class, leaving other classes of Chinese, ex- cept as they, together with all other foreigners, may be included within the prohibitions of the general immigra- tion laws, as free to come and go as the citizens or subjects of any other nation.
 China Is Justly Offended.
 "As the laws are framed, however, 1t would appear that the purpose was rigidly to exclude persons of the Chi nese race in general and to admit only such persons of the race as fall within certain expressly stated exemptions, as if, in other words, exclusion was the rule and admission the exception. regard this feature of the present laws as unnecessary and fraught with irri- tating consequences.
 "In the administration of laws so framed, notwithstanding the care talk en to treat persons of the Chinese race lawfully entitled to admission with l the same courtesy and consideration | shown to other foreigners, 1t is impos- sible that persons who have to endure and formalities peculiar to themselves should fail to take of fense and to resent as a humiliation t the manner in which by law they are from natives of other countries.
 Laws so framed can only be regard ed as involving a discrimination on ac- count of race, and it is needless to point out that discrimination on ac- count of race, color, previous condi- ion or religion are alike opposed to he principles of the republic and to he spirit of its institutions. It is not therefore, that both the Chi lese government and the Chinese peo" )le should feel aggrieved and should in yarious ways manifest their resent nent and displeasure.
 Federal Control of Business.
 "A more opportune moment than the present. can hardly be desired for a better understanding with 'hina on the subject of Chinese immi- ration and for adjusting our policy n this regard to the demands of jus ice and equality. This could be done lot by making it any easier for Chi ese laborers to enter, but by so fram- ng our laws and treaties as to make the rule and exclusion the while preserving at the anne time in all it's integrity the pres mt policy of the laws and even strengthening where necessary the real features thereof through a ull and explicit definition of the ex- luded classes"
 In writing of the bureau of corpora ions Mir. Straus upholds the presi- ent's policy of federal control of cor Orations.
 Urges Ship Subsidy.
 He recommends that congress take ctiOn for the encouragement of Amer an steamship lines to South America nd in the Pacific
 Even in the discharge of ordinary motions of government we have put urselves under the protection of for Ign flags" he says. Not many lonths ago it became necessary to dis atch a small force of American troops } Cuba. They were sent under the ritish flag. More recently 1t was de- ded to transfer a powerful fleet of arships from the Atlantic to the Pa- fife. and the coal for this feet is un- Pr the shelter of foreign flags. a sit atiOn which could not be afforded in ,tual warfare.
 There is not today another first ass power in a similar position. here is not another. believe. which it found itself in that position would low such conditions to continue nger than until by sufficient expendi- Ire they could be corrected in the lOrtest possible time Such e1pendI- ires would be as clearly for public imposes as appropriations for the ar y. the navy. the Panama canal or the f Sstal system f