Honolulu Republican, Volume IV, Number 502, 21 Ianuali 1902 — FOR HEARING ON EXCLUSION [ARTICLE]

FOR HEARING ON EXCLUSION

OPINIONS OF LABOR LEADERS WESTERN MEN HAVE DECIDED TO DELAY ACTION ON THE CHINESE QUESTION. Calife-ma Commission to be Given an Opportunity to Express its Views. Gene r al Sentiment Favors Extending the Present Law With Additions from Immigration B<ll. p Washington, January 9.— The committee of Pa< ifii Coast representat I vos m«t today to decide on a Chinese exclusion bill. While the sub- ‘ '•aniittee that has been at work on t * matter had not definitely reported *a« generally thought that a bill r- < ;.a< ting the present laws would be fatu:<-d with the additions from the Immigration Bureau bill. No bill, however, wag reported. A communication was received from Samuel Gompers. president of the American Federation of asking to be heard on the exclusion question. md the members of the California Exclusion Commission w« re In attendance to request a hearing. so the committee decided to post l»one action for one week. In the meantime the sub-committee decided to hear Gompers and the California Commission, and report to the general committee which will meet next Thursday. Opinions of Members. From interviews with members of I he committee it ig clear that the tendency is strong io return to the plan of re-enacting the present laws, without attempting to secure the elaborate provisions prepared by the Immigration Bureau. Two drafts of the bills are to be presented by Gompers and the California Commission, which follow the general plan of reenai ting the present exclusion laws in extenso. adding provisions preventing th<- Chines,, the Philippines from ■ titering I lie United States The other Is the Ixulge bill, merely remov 1 tig t,i» time limit from the laws now in effect and adding a Philippine pro vision. The subcommittee, taking • lies,- bill- and the Immigration Bn lean hill, will set to work hiring the 'liming week to frami' a measure that will combine the best features of all. If was the opinion of the Pacific C ast representatives, with the exception of Loud, that the labor leaders and the California Commission should b*- given full hearings. Loud was strongly opposed to granting them a healing He presided at the committee meeting, hue declined to have Gompers' nmmunication road. All the others in the California delegation took the stand that the California Commission should be heard in full even though it might not be able to shed much light on the subject. Gompers is Indignant. Gompers was intensely indignant over the manner in which Loud tr'atid his communication, and the mem bers of the delegation shared to some extent in the feeling. asMhey said all sides were entitled to a hearing. If was only owing to the strong stand 'aken by Perkins. Kahn and Metcalf that Loud consented to invite the t'alifornla Commission to address the sub-committee. After the general committee adjotirned the sub-committee met. and Edward J Livernash and Truxton Beale of the Commission were given a hearing. Livernash and Beale afterward had an Interview with the President, and said they found him in favor of legislation on the plan of the lu»dge bill. Another interview was appointed for next Saturday, when Gompers. Furuseth. Livernash and Beale are to present the labor side of the question to the President. The same parties are to have a confer-

ence with Senator Lodge tomorrow mriming It was also arranged that , the sub-committee should hear Gem I pers on Sunday afternoon.