1900 the Democrats declared for a continuance of the exclusion laws. The American Federation of Labor at their convention in Kentucky in 1900 adopted the following resolution:

Whereas recent events have increased the danger threatening the American workers from Mongolian labor; and

Whereas the Chinese-exclusion law expires in 1902; and

Whereas the Pacific coast and intermountain States are suffering severely from Chinese and Japanese cheap coolie labor: Therefore, be it

Resolved, That Congress strengthen and reenact the Chinese-exclusion law, including in its provisions all Mongolian labor.

On the Pacific coast public sentiment was still strongly in favor of exclusion. A convention held in San Francisco on November 22, 1901, and composed of more than 1,000 representatives of county supervisors, city councils, and trade, commercial, and city organizations declared for a continuance of the exclusion laws."

The Chinese minister to the United States, Wu Ting-Fang, in a letter to the Secretary of State, dated December 10, 1901, discussed the situation and urged "an adjustment of the questions involved more in harmony with the friendly relations of the two Governments." In this letter he dwelt upon the hardship suffered by the Chinese under the existing law and was sorry to say that "merchants and students do not receive the courtesy and consideration due them, but are looked upon as offenders and treated as such." He saw in the exclusion laws injury to the commerce of the United States. Chinese immigration to the Hawaiian Islands, he declared, would be beneficial for the islands. He further said "The unwisdom of the Otis order (extending United States Chinese-exclusion laws to the Philippines) is demonstrated by the situation of affairs in the possessions of other nations in the same quarter of the world."

And finally he recommended deliberation, saying:

In view of the vast interests involved and the commercial and friendly relations between China and the United States, I earnestly hope that no hasty step will be taken looking to the reenactment of the exclusion laws, in deference to the clamor from any quarter, until every effort has been made to obtain a broad and comprehensive view of the question.

The best manner of dealing with the problem he considered to be by means of a nonpartisan committee, which should study the matter and report proper legislation.

The country had by this time become fully accustomed to the exclusion acts and Congress was satisfied with their principle. In the Fifty-seventh Congress, first session, 20 bills providing for the exclusion of Chinese were introduced, and during the session there were 247 petitions received in the House favoring the general exclusion of the Chinese, 30 petitions favoring exclusion from our insular possessions, and 16 petitions to exclude all Asiatics; while there were only 8 petitions against exclusion and 8 favoring admission of the Chinese mercantile classes.

On the 16th of January, 1902, Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, introduced a bill to prohibit the coming of Chinese into the United States and regulating their residence within her territories. A similar

The memorial of this convention, also the arguments of the American Federation, entitled "Meat v. Rice," are found in S. Doc. No. 137, 57th Cong., 1st sess. Doc. 164, 57th Cong., 1st sess.

bill was introduced in the House by Mr. Kahn, of California. On March 26, 1902, Mr. Perkins, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported Mr. Kahn's bill with a substitute. Several provisions of the bill were stricken out because they were considered unconstitutional. The committee proposed excluding all Chinese laborers, but they wanted to avoid any discourtesy or annoyance to any genuine. merchants, students, etc., on the ground that this attitude was necessary to obtain a fare share of the commerce with China. The committee also struck out the clause forbidding the employment of Chinese on ships carrying the American flag in the Pacific Ocean, because it was injurious to American shipping. Following in the main the committee's recommendations the bill passed the House. The clause relating to seamen was restored and all laws were extended to the insular possessions.

In the Senate the bills of Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Kahn were considered too severe, and before passing that body they were amended by providing that all existing laws be reenacted to continue in force until a new treaty should be negotiated. As amended the bill passed by a vote of 76 to 1, not voting 11. Senator Hoar of Massachusetts cast the opposing vote, thus upholding his early position that he could not support legislation which discriminated against race. The House refused to concur in this amendment. But the report of the conference was adopted in the Senate and the House on April 28. The President approved it April 29, 1902.

THE ACT OF 1904.

Upon the refusal of China to continue the treaty of 1894 after 1904, Congress, by section 5 of the deficiency act of April 27, 1904, again reenacted, extended, and continued, without modification, limitation, or condition, all laws then in force "in so far not inconsistent with treaty obligations."

By the act of 1904 all existing legislation was continued in force until otherwise provided by law. All legislation was extended to the insular possessions and Chinese immigration from these islands to the United States or from one island group to another was prohibited, although moving from island to island of the same group was allowed. Certificates of residence were also required in the insular possessions, except Hawaii. The Secretary of the Treasury was charged with the making of regulations for the enforcement of these laws.

THE AGREEMENT WITH JAPAN.

During 1906 the Japanese question became acute, and the Pacific States demanded exclusion legislation for the Japanese the same as existed for the Chinese. This was finally settled in the passport provision inserted in the law of 1907. This has been called the "Cali

a S. 2960 (S. Rept. 776; H. Rept. 9330), 57th Cong., 1st sess.

H. R. 13031 (H. Rept. 1231), 57th Cong., 1st sess.

Appendix E, p. 142 (82 Stat., pt. 1, p. 176).

d33 Stat., p. 428, Appendix E.

See pp. 110-111.

fornia compromise." By it the President was authorized to refuse admission to any aliens making use of passports to the insular possessions, the Canal Zone, or any country other than the United States, to gain admission to the continental United States. The President, in his proclamation of March 14, 1907, availed himself of this provision and excluded

Japanese or Korean laborers, skilled or unskilled, who have received passports to go to Mexico, Canada, or Hawaii and come therefrom.

To give this full force an understanding with Japan was reached that the existing policy of discouraging the emigration of her subjects to this country should be continued. This agreement by which the two Governments cooperate to secure an effective enforcement of the regulation

Contemplates that the Japanese Government shall issue passports to continental United States only to such of its subjects as are nonlaborers or are laborers who, in coming to the continent, seek to resume a formerly acquired domicile, to join a parent, wife, or children residing there, or to assume active control of an already possessed interest in a farming enterprise in this country."

a Report of Commissioner-General of Immigration, 1908, p. 125.

APPENDIXES.

A. SYNOPSIS OF IMMIGRATION AND CONTRACT-LABOR LAWS, 1875-1907. B.-UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION LAWS, 1864–1910.

C. UNITED STATES CONTRACT-LABOR LAWS, 1885-1887.

D. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, RETURNING TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WITHOUT APPROVAL, HOUSE BILL 7864, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO AMEND THE IMMIGRATION LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES."

E. TREATIES AND LAWS RESPECTING CHINESE IMMIGRATION, 1881-1904.

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