Speech #570039249

Chairman. a word or two more about some provisions of detail in this bill that I wish to explain very briefly to the committee. The chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs said that we have taken in its general outline the Kahn bill. which was introduced in behalf of the members from California. The question of Chinese exclusion is more important in California than in any other part of the country. and it was our endeavor in every way to carry out the desire of the California delegation to make this law a law which should not only say that Chinese laborers should be excluded. but should furnish the means and the appliances and the requirements for making that exclusion effectual. which should check the fraudulent introduction of Chinese into this country. There were. however. two or three questions of detail in which the committee differed from some provisions of the Kahn bill. which I desire to submit to the judgment of the Committee of the Whole. By your judgment we will be guided. The Committee on Foreign Affairs had but one desire. namely. to have a bill which would be most effective. most judicious. most wise. to carry out the principle of Chinese exclusion. but on questions of detail we all have our judgment. Now. there are substantially three questions which I shall state very briefly to the members of the committee. The first was this: The bill provides that the Chinese shall be excluded from the Philippine Islands.