Mr. President. since it is the purpose of this measure. and since it will. beyond peradventare. pass this body. although it is not needed. if the existing law is to remain upon the statute books which puts our coastwise laws into effect upon the 1st of July of the present year between the Philippine Islands and the United States. then. in compensation for the immense profits they will be able to reap from the Government of the United States. as testified to by the Secretary of War. they should be made a training school. within reasonable limits. for American sailors. The opportunity is given. unjust and unnecessary as this law may be. if it is to be upon the statute books. of starting on the Pacific coast schools for American sailors. schools that will give encouragement to American sailors. that will open up the ports of the Pacific coast to American sailors. and not confine employment in the transPacific trade to Chinese shipped in Hongkong and Asiatic ports. working for a quarter of the wages the average white sailor is able to secure where his services are rejuired. and encouraging a species of treatment of the white sailor. wherever he may be upon an American vessel trading with an Asiatic port. that will drive him to abandon his ship in order that his place may be filled with sailors and firemen and cabin boys who will enter the service for onequarter the wages the .deserter had been receiving. I think the Senators from California and the Senators from Oregon know full well the feeling and the sentiment of the people of the Pacific slope upon that question. and none of them. from his own personal knowledge. I think. will even intimate that the sentiment is not fully justified by the evil results that are possible everywhere. following the almost exclusive employment of Chinese upon American vessels plying between American and oriental ports.
Identified stereotypes
Chinese workers are willing to work for a quarter of the wages of white sailors.