Speech #930091834

Two types of racially discriminatory laws are still be found in our statutes. These are the "Cooly Trade Laws" and the Bertillon System of Identification. Both of these discriminate against Orientals. (1) Cooly Trade Laws: Websters New International Dictionary. second edition. unabridged. defines "coolie" or "cooly" asIn India. Egypt. and China. and sometimes Japan. especially among Europeans. a native unskilled hired laborer. or a porter or carrier. also. elsewhere. a cheap laborer transported from the East Indies. China. or Japan. Websters Third New International Dictionary. unabridged. defines a "coolie" as an unskilled laborer. carrier. or porter or a semiskilled menial usually in or from the Far East. hired for low or subsistence wages. In Africa. a person of Indian origin or descent. In 1862. Congress enacted what is termed "The Cooly Trade Laws" to correct what was then a widespread practice of exploiting persons of Oriental origin. particularly Chinese and Japanese. These persons were procured abroad and brought to other foreign ports or placesincluding the United Stateswhere they were disposed of. sold. or transferred as servants or apprentices. or held in service or labor. Ainerican citizens were made subject to a fine of $2.000 and a 1year prison term for engaging in such coolie traffic or building or sailing any vessels for such traffic. Any vessels used in coolie trade and owned by citizens of the United States or registered or licensed in the United States were made subject to forfeiture to the United States. This law was amended in 1869. again in 1875 and finally in 1911. The 1875 amendment made it a criminal offense for a citizen or anyone amenable to the laws of the United States to take to or from the United States any subject of China. Japan. or any.Oriental country. "without their free and voluntary consent. for the purpose of holding them to a term of service." or for anyone to contract to supply coolie labor. All contracts for a term of such service in the United States were declared void. In 1911. when the Circuit Courts duties were transferred to the District Courts. a correcting technical amendment was enacted. While these laws undoubtedly had a laudable purpose when enacted. today they are obsolete. The word "coolie" carries a demeaning connotation to the person of Oriental descent to whom it is applied and it is used only when that connotation is intended. There is no practical need today for such laws. they are merely a source of irritation to persons of Oriental origin. These "Cooly Trade Laws" should be deleted from our statutesthey should not be a source of racial misunderstanding perpetuated in our statute books.