Speech #520017197

There is very strong reason why this bill should be acted upon very soon. It is a bill the title. of which naturally would give rise to some controversy. but the present laws in regard to Chinesd immigration expire by their limitation. I think. on the 6th day of May. and this bill ought to be passed during the present month or as soon as possible in order that communications between the two Governments may be exchanged. This bill. as I understand it (it was very carfully -considered in the Committee on Foreign Relations). simply extends the existing laws ten years longer. There have been other bills and propositions pending before the committee. some of which were reported adversely. that propose to make the laws much more severe. but it was thought best that so far as the pending bill is concerned it should be passed so as to continue the existing legislation. as it does. ten years longer. leaving Congress. as a matter of course. free to act upon any other questions which may arise. In reply to the observation made by the Senator from New Hampshire . I wish to say that this bill does not refer to general immigration. that is. it does not involve the question of immigration per se. That is a question by itself. Any law regarding immigration extending to all the nations of the world would usually be referred to the Committee on Immigration. that is. where it applies to all nations alike. but this proposed legislation in regard to the Chinese is held to be peculiar because they are a peculiar nation. The same laws that apply to the Chinese probably would not apply to Christian nations. at least. and perhaps not to other nations with whom we have intercourse.