Speech #470037299

The first section of this bill defines what Chinese may not come into the United States. It providesThat from and after the expiration of ninety days next after the passage of this act. and until the expiration of twenty years next after the passage of this act. the coming of Chinese laborers to the United States be. and the same is hereby sue-. pended. and during such suspension it shall not be lawful for any Chinese latorer to come. or. having so come after the expiration of said ninety days. to remain within the United States. That first section of the bill is to carry out the stipulations of the new treaty by providing that the immigration of Chinese laborers into the United States shall be suspended for a period of twenty years. I have heard it said by some. who I think have not given this subject the consideration which its magnitude demands. that the twentyyear limitation is too great. Let us examine for a moment and see whether it is too great or not. If we are to accomplish anything that is absolutely needed to protect us from the evils which we apprehend. which we feel on the Pacific coast. we can do no different than to pass a law which is in strict compliance with the treaty. The treaty permits us to suspend the immigration of Chinese laborers into the United States. that suspension to be reasonable. That is the language of the treaty. Now.