That committee during the last session and this one have had before it three subjects of importance to the whole country. One is a resolution introduced by Mr. Cox construing the eighthour law. the second is a bill regulating Chinese immigration. and the third is a bill for the distribution of the proceeds of the public land. I need hardly remind the House of the nature and importance of these bills. The first rectifies a great wrong that is now done to the employds of the Government by the neglect or refusal of the Executive Department to enforce the plain and unmistakable provisions of a law now upon our statutebook. It simply asks that the Government shall not set the example of nullifying or evading the laws of the land. The bill regulating Chinese immigration is equally familiar to all of us. It proposes to check the immigration of an alien race who have no sympathy with our institutions and whose groveling habits enable them to subject our American workmen to a competition under which the denizens and appliances of civilized life are impossible. The third bill. distributing the proceeds of the public land for educational purposes. is one of especial importance to the colored race. as it places within their reach the means of education. of citizenship. and of usefulness. We have imposed grave duties and responsibilities upon that race. and I hold and our committee holds that by this act the Government. the people of the whole country. have imposed upon themselves the duty of preparing and fitting these new citizens for the faithful and intelligent discharge of the duties incumbent upon them.
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Chinese immigrants are described as an alien race with no sympathy for American institutions and groveling habits.