She may be too weak to retaliate. but she is sure to cherish ill feeling against us. which will take a long time to remove. I wish to call attention to the provision in the bill which makes it necessary for all Chinese in the United States. merchants. students. and other members of the exempt classes. to take out a certificate of registration with a photograph attached. and persons who fail to obtain such certificates are presumed to be laborers and not entitled to remain within the territory of the United States. and are liable to arrest at any moment. This will give the Chinese in this country no end of annoyance. and subjects them to arrest at the caprice of the customs and immigration officers. If this bill becomes a law. few if any selfrespecting Chinamen will come to this country. I am supported in this assertion by the statement contained in a letter which was printed in the Washington Times of last Sunday. from the pen of a learned and distinguished Chinaman. Again. the Chinese minister has recently written a letter to the Slate Department. dated March 22.1902. drawing attention to the objectionable clauses of the bill. pointing out that if this bill is passed it will prevent all respectable Chinese from coming to the United States. in consequence of which the present friendly relations between the United States and China will be endangered. This letter. at the request of the Chinese minister. has been transmitted by the Secretary of State to the Senate and has been referred to the Committee on Immigration. I have also read in the papers that the Chinese Government in Pekin. through Mr. Conger. our minister. has requested our Government to be reasonable and not violate treaty obligations in our new legislation with respect to the Chinese.
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