Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-16

divided as to whom the credit is due for the
settlement of the question of excluding the
Japanese laborers. Representative Hayes
VINO is spokesman for the delegation. de-
ciares that the whole thing was framed
up before Mayor Schmitz and the school
board arrived in Washington and init
mates that "all the glory should go to the
senator's and representatives. He says the
agreement reached at yesterdays confer
ence will meet with the hearty approval of
the people of the Pacific coast states, but
insists that this Is only a temporary ar
by treaty with Japan excluding the coolie
Iaborers.
Representative Kahn said:
The people of California owe an ever
lasting debt of gratitude to Mayor Schmitz
and his associates for what they have ac-
complished. The people of the coast states
however, will not consider this final set
tlement of the problem. We must have a
treaty with the Japanese government sup
plemented by appropriate legislation that
will exclude the coolie labor from the
United States in the same manner that the
Chinese are now kept out. California will
be satisfied with nothing less. This tenta-
tive agreement will work SO long as Japan
desires to keep faith and no longer. If
the present ministry in Toxic should be
forced out of office, another administration
might decide to issue passports to jap
anese laborers to come direct to the MAIN
land of the United States, and in that event
the amendment TO the immigration bill
would be a dead letter"
Two members of the school board-Law-
renee F. Walsh, president. and Thomas F.
Boyle-left last night for Baltimore and
New York to inspect the public school
buildings in these cities. Mayor Schmitz
and the other members of the board will
remain in Washington until Monday night,
when the American Federation of Labor
will give reception in Mayor Schmtz's
honor.
State Department Waiting.
The State Department is awaiting the dis
position by Congress of the pending immi-
grafton bill before proceeding further with
the consideration of the Japanese exclusion
question. If the bill is enacted into law, an
immediate effort will be made to come to
formal agreement with the Japanese gov
eminent that will ensure the continuance of
the present policy of that government Of
Withholding passports to the United States
from Japanese laborers. So far as the
pending legislation is concerned, it is stated
that there is every reason to believe that
it will be acceptable to the japanese gov
eminent; at any rate there has not yet
been the faintest sign of disapproval in that
quarter.
The pending immigration bill, with the
amendment proposed by the State Depart
ment excluding persons without passports
coming from countries which issue such
papers, does not in terms refer to Japan,
but Is of general application. Therefore
there was no occasion, 1t Is said, to formal
ly inquire whether or not the Japanese gov
eminent entertained any objection to 1t.
But as matter of fact, it may be now
stated on authority that some action in
that line was actually suggested by the
Japanese themselves. That was at the be-
Secretary Root, complaining to the Jap
anese ambassador against the influx of
Japanese coolies from Hawaii, asked wheth-
er Japan could not do something to stop
the flow.
Suggested by Japan.
The Japanese government replied with an
inquiry as to why we did not ourselves
stop it, pointing out that when a japanese
subject left Japan with passport his gov
eminent lost control over him; 1t could not
make sure that he would go to or stop at
the port mentioned in the passport 1t
was therefore for the United States to pre-
vent the emigrant from abusing his pass
port and entering the United States.
That reply was taken as q sufficient in
-dication of the favorable disposition Of the
Japanese government, hence the movement
to secure the necessary legislation to con-
troll emigration on the lines suggested. The
desired exclusion of Japanese coolies, there
fore. is to be secured, If at all, as an Incl
dent to the application Of the general prin-
ciples of the immigration law, which would
become Immediately obnoxious If any at
tempt were made to specifically name Japa-
nese laborers, thus making legal discrimi-
nation against the race.
relative TO the SCHOOL Question:, lQo OIL
Gals decline to make any statement for
publication, abiding strictly to the terms
Of an agreement that was made with the
San Francisco school board at the begin
ming Of it's conferences with the President
and Secretary Root. 1t is, however, under
stood that the enactment of the immigra-
ton bill, with the undertaking by the State
Department to do what is necessary to
make the exclusion Of Japanese laborers
permanent through a formal agreement
with Japan will meet the desires of the
members of the board and result in the
removal Of the restrictions against the adj
mission to the white schools in San Fran
cisco of Japanese children of tender years.
Attitude of California Courts.
An interesting fact that has developed
in the discussion of the respective rights
of state and nation where treaties are in
yolved is that in at least one case the Cali
fornia courts have taken the most ad-
yanced grounds in favor of the supremacy
of the treaties, in one instance holding
that the treaty right of aliens to possess
real estate could not be destroyed by a
state law.
1.-The California committee which came
here to confer with the President on the
Japanese question has not conceded any
of its rights. State sovereignty was abso-
lutely insisted upon" declared Mayor
Schmitz of San Francisco today. Yet. he
said, a complete agreement had been
reached on all points of difference, the
only thing remaining to be done being the
Incorporation by Congress of the exclusion
amendment in the immigration Dill. rms,
it is expected will be done by the Senate
today. AS matters stand now, he said. all
parties will be satisfied.
Displeasure in Japan.
TOXIC February 16.-The projected
amendment to the American immigration
law, involving a restriction on japanese
labor immigration to the United States
from the Hawaiian Island, is naturally
received here with great displeasure, but
the well-informed fail, under existing cir
cumstances, to find ground for complaint
at this action of the American government.
The council of elder statesmen and cabinet
ministers today showed no concern what
ever over the diplomatic situation.
Test Cases May Be Dropped.