Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-09
WOULD ADMIT THE CHINESE
Except Those Glasses Which Are
Already Excluded.
OUR DEPENDENCE ON EUROPE
Report Calls Attention to Our Sol
dies Being Carried Under
Flags of other Nations.

nsrtment of Commerce and Labor, has
made public his annual report. The de-
partment includes the following divisions:
Bureau of immigration and naturaliza-
ton, bureau Of corporations, bureau of
labor. bureau of statistics, bureau of
manufactures, bureau of census, bureau
of navigation. steamboat inspection serv-
ice, lighthouse establishment, bureau of
fisheries, coast and geodetc survey, bu-
reau of standards.
Secretary Straus' report is, in part, as
follows:
This department which is the most re-
cent in its creation, has been steadily
growing and is rapidly coming into closer
relations with the commercial and labor
interests of the country. 1t is primarily
and largely connected with the internal
economic interests of the country, in the
consideration of which, however. it is nee
esjary not to lose sight of the interna-
tional relations upon which 1t has an i'm
portant bearing
The tendency of government admins
tration, especially in a department such
as this. which has to do so largely with
economic and sociological questions. is to
develop more along scientific lines and
not to keep sufficiently close in touch with
the practical and commercial interests OF
the country. 1t has been my purpose to
overcome this natural tendency, and ]
hope to bring the department., especially
its bureau of manufactures, in direct con-
ia with the leading commercial bodies,
such as the chambers of commerce and
boards of trade, in the principal cities of
the country. This will not only be bene-
fcial in guiding the department to exert
its efforts in extending the commerce of
the United States, but also helpful to the
commercial interests of the country in i'm
parting such information as comes to it
TrrvH lie and n
agents sent abroad to investigate trade
conditions in foreign lands.
The total number of aliens admitted
during the year was 1,2S5.349, which eX-
ceeded that for the fiscal year 1905 by
1851. and that for the fiscal year 1905
by 25S,S50, being increases of II and %
per cent. respectively. During the year
13,O64 aliens were rejected, an Increase
of 60. The total number seeking admis
sion in 1907, therefore. was Los, Alb, an
increase over the total number applying
in 1906 of 1926.
Age of Aliens.
notable feature of the immigration
consists in the fact that of the aliens ad-
mitted. 1.1OO.771 ranged in age from four
teen to forty-four years, ana 1884 were
less than fourteen years of age, leaving
only 6234 who had reached or passed
the age of forty-five. AS to literacy. it is
shown that 343 i02. or so per cent of the
total number of aliens admitted. were il
literate Concerning the financial condi
ton of the immigrants. 87392 exhibited
less than $50 each-how much more they
had 1t is impossible to statewide 107, 5o2
showed amounts In excess of that sum;
and the total amount of money which was
exhibited by arriving aliens and brought
into the country was SIS 500, 500, an aver
age of almost $40 per person.
Distribution Of Immigrants.
The considerable increase of immigra-
ton for recent years is due to causes ex-
ternal as we'll as internal. The rapidity
of communication and the cheapness of
passenger traffic have made it much
easier, especially for the laboring classes,
to migrate. and the result is seen not only
in our immigration, but to a much larger
relative extent in the immigration into
Canada and into other countries on this
continent. particularly Brazil. Mexico and
Argentina. The external impelling causes
are religious expressions and economic
pressure, and the internal causes are COM
merctal prosperity and the opportunities
and advantages that are afforded for bet
ter conditions in our free and democratic
country.
The main objection to the greatly in
creased immigration during the past dec
ade is because of the congestion and the
consequent evils caused thereby in our
larger Atlantic seaport cities. Congress,
doubtless in recognition of this fact, made
provision in the new act (section 40) for a
division of informa ton. which might more
accurately be designated a division of
information and distribution"
| indorse the recommendations made by
the commissioner general for charging
and improving the immigration sta tons
at Ellis Island and other points on the
Atlantic seaboard.
Chinese immigration.
The present policy of the United States
with reference to Chinese immigration, as
DEVELOPED by both the legislative and the
executive departments of the govern
nent is Of long standing, having existed
for nearly a generation. a governmental
policy so long pursued is not lightly to
be changed. nor is any change proposed
What l have to urge is not only based
upon full recognition of the fixed char
acter of the present policy, but Is entire
~ in furtherance thereof. AS the laws
are framed. however. it would appear that
the purpose was rigidly to exclude persons
OF the Chinese race in general and to ad-
nit only such persons of the race as fall
within certain expressly stated exemp-
tlons-es II, in other words, exclusion was
the rule and admission the exception.
regard this feature of the present laws
as unnece ssary and fraught with irritat-
ing consequences. In the administration
of laws so framed, notwithstanding the
CdTc TAKEN 10 treat persons Oh the SllneSe
race lawfully entitled to admission with
the same courtesy and consideration
shown to other foreigners, IL is impossible
that persons who have to endure require
ments and formalities peculiar to them
selves should fail TO take offense and "a
resent as a humiliation the manner in
which by law they are distinguished from
natives of other countries. Laws sc
framed can only be regarded as involving
a discrimination on account of race, anG
II is needless to point out that discrimi
nations on account OF race, color, previou.
condition, or religion are alike opposed Il
the principles of the republic and to the
spirit of its institutions
~ Is not surprising, therefore. that botl
the Chinese government and the Chimes,
people should feel aggrieved. and should
In various ways manifest their resentment
and displeasure. The attitude of the Chi
nese government may be inferred from
the fact that in 1904. after the convention
OF 1894 had been in force for ten years
China, availing herself OF a right reserved
formally denounced the treaty thus re
fusing longer 10 be party to an arrange
m mt which. as carried into effect by leg
islstIon, was offensive to her natona
pride. 1t is not improbable that one o.
the reasons which led to this action OIL
the part of the Chinese government wa.
the Interpretation which came to be place,
upon the treaty and laws relating 10 Chi
nese immigration.
Making the Law Polite.
But on higher grounds than those o
mere commercial self-interest should tn,