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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1902)
mu PAGES 1 TO 8 .; VOL. XXI. no: u. PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 6, 1902. PRICE FIVE CENTS. SUPPORTS THE BILL Senator Fairbanks'Argument for Chinese Exclusion. HE ANALYZES ITS PROVISIONS Not In Contravention of Treaty Right of Congrexs to Enact Such Legislation Protection of Labor. WASHINGTON. April 5. After passing the Indian appropriation bill today, the Senate considered the Chinese exclusion measure for nearly three hours. The prin cipal speech of the session was made by Fairbanks in support of the bill. He analyzed its provisions to demonstrate they were not in contravention of our treaty with China and discussed at length the right of Congress to enact exclusion legislation. He maintained that it was a cardinal principle of this Government to protect our labor against such low-priced labor as would come to the United States from China. An extended debate upon some of the provisions of the pending bill followed Fairbanks' speech. Gallinger and Piatt of Connecticut Indicated their belief that the provisions of the measure relating to the exempted classes were In contraven tion of our treaty obligations to China, Lodge, Penrose and Fairbanks combatted this view. A bill to supply additional urgent defi ciency appropriations, carrying $200,567, was reported from the committee on ap propriations and passed. The Senate then resumed consideration of the Indian appropriation bill. Turner offered an amendment, which was agreed x to, providing that the mineral lands only in the Spokane Indian reservation in the State of Washington shall be subject to entry under the laws of the United States in relation to the entry of mineral lands. Quarles offered an amendment providing that the Secretary of the Interior might use $5000 of the appropriation for con tingencies of the Indian service for the purpose of introducing the willow Industry among the Indians. Afer the adoption of some minor amendments the bill was passed. Fairbanks' Speech. Consideration of the Chinese exclusion bill was then resumed, and Fairbanks ad dressed the Senate in support of the meas- ure. He said in part: "Some of the provisions of the bill may seem to be unduly drastic, yet they are such only as experience has suggested. They are such in the main as are now found necessary to enforce existing law and to prevent its evasion. To those who respect and obey the law they will not wm .burde.nsomeiie. -wiJUseem severe only to "those who wish to' nullify it 'and to secure the wrongful admission of Chi nese for the large profit which the ne farious traffic offers. "It may seem to some that existing rules and regulations were adequate and that it was unnecessary to enact them Into the form of a statute. But experience has shown that they are not regarded by some officials wlth'that respect which they have for the written law, and that they are too readily and easily set aside by those who are appointed to administer them. "The main purpose of the pending bill, as we have seen. Is to prohibit Chinese la borers from coming into the United States. The bill is not a departure from the well settled and well-known policy of the Gov ernment. It is a policy the full purpose and scope of which is as well known in the Chinese Empire as it is known in the United States. "It Is with special pride that we point to the fact that our labor Is better paid than the labor of any other country- Our ef fort has been to maintain a high wage scale, upon the generally accepted theory and belief that well-paid labor means bet ter citizens and a better country than we could possibly enjoy If wages were forced to a low standard. A low wage market is most undesirable. It is not in the inter est of either capital or labor, and we shall fail in our duty If we shall open the way to the free admission of Oriental cheap labor, which will Inevitably result in lower wages to our laborers. "The Chinese Empire is teeming with a population- of some 400.000,000 of human beings. With many it is a struggle for the barest necessities of life. It is a no torious fact that many of the people there live upon that which no decent American would wish one of his own countrymen to be obliged to subsist upon. "The great Chinese ports are but 20 days from San Francisco, Portland and Puget Sound. Transportation facilities are ample, and the cost is moderate. "The opportunities in this country are so much greater and more inviting than in Chinp that countless thousands would seek our shores were restrictions re moved. "There is nothing Immoral in our ex clusion of those who do not tend to ele vate our civilization. On the contrary, we would be recreant to the high trust committed to us If we should enter upon a policy of admission of vast numbers who must surely tend to bear it down. Our course Is not dictated byany ill will toward the Chinese Empire. We have but to recur to the events of the past few years to find the amplest assurance of American friendship 'for that great and venerable empire. When other nations sought her dismemberment and the distri bution of her provinces among the pow ers of the earth, the United States stood first and foremost in favor of the preser vation of her solidarity. We wish for China the most enlightened progress and prosperity, but our first duty is to our own country. We wish to see our country grow in strength and power; not in num. bers only, for we do not find in mere numbers our greatest National strength and chief glory. We find our chief pride in the oharacter and quality of those who constitute the 80,000,000 of American citi zens. Aim of the Republic. "A high order of citizenship Is the chief end and aim of the Republic. We estab lish schools and found universities that they may elevate our people to a higher and broader and better plane. We have a care for the humblest among us. We want men and women who are in love with our institutions, and who will support and defend them, and transmit them unlm palrt d to posterity. It has been a part of our National policy to greet at our ports those from every land who are assimilable with us. We have been actuated by no r.ativlstic spirit. We have made them Joint sharers with us in the blessings and opportunities with which a beneficent Providence has favored us; but we should not Invite those who will pull down and degrade our high standard. "Our first care is to "our own country and its citizenship, native born and for eign born alike. Our policy toward those of foreign birth, as I have hitherto 6aid, is a broad and generous one. So soon as an alien sets foot upon our soil, every avenue, save one, is open to him, as It is open to the native born. The ways of trade and commerce, the professions and politics, are as free and open to him as to those who are born beneath our own benignant skies. Being thus4 liberal, nave we no rightful concern as to who Is ad mitted? Is it of no concern to us whether or not he shall have in him the elements of good citizenship? What were our coun try without its citizenship? Destroy It or corrupt it and our chief glory is gone. "The admission of cheap labor may for the time being stimulate enterprise upon the Pacific! Coast and elsewhere. It may quicken the wheels' of commerce, already turning with greater rapidity than at any period in our history. It may for the time being promote the Interests of capital, but I do not believe that in the long run it will do so. I do not believe that there is a right-minded and intelligent citizen of the Republic who views the multiplied agencies for cheap production production with decreased labor who does not put the query to himself. What will be the result when we shall have a surplus of labor? A surplus of labor is in the na ture of a calamity. We can conceive of no worse misfortune than a great country with labor unemployed. A surplus in the labor market is one of the serious proba bilities that often faces us. "That American labor is displaced by the admission of Chinese labor, and that the opportunity of American labor Is cur tailed to the extent that Chinese labor is Introduced, is obvious. It may be said that the same is true with respect to the admission of European labor, but in the latter case1 we admit those from whom we are descended, and who, speaking largely, are readily and fully incorporat ed Into our American citizenship; while in the other case we have no racial ele ments in common. They do not harmon ize with us. Upon their admission they become an undigested and undlgestlble mass. "The pending bill Is Intended to carry Into the public law as the policy of the United States, recognized in the Gresham treaty and sanctioned by the almost uni versal Judgment of the people, the exclu sion of Chinese laborers. It recognizes as entitled to admission Chinese officials, teachers, 6tudcnts, merchants and travel ers for curiosity or pleasure, excepted by the terms of the Gresham treaty. This list Is neither enlarged nor restricted by the bill. "It has been found in the administration of the law that Chinese laborers have been smuggled Into the country as belonging to the excepted classes, and it has been found necessary to define such classes so as to prevent the gross abuse of the privi lege. The Home Relation. "A most serious objection to the admis sion of Chinese laborers is the general disregard of the home relation, with all of its humanizing and ennobling influ ences. The American home is indeed the unit of the Republic. In the final analy. sis, great issues which engage our atten tion from time to time. In fact the destiny of the Republic, are determined at the American fireside. Abolish the American home, and the days of the Republic are numbered. Immigration which ignores this great potential fact is a serious men ace, and Is not to be desired. "Competition between American labor and Chinese labor Is unequal. The two start in the contest upon an entirely dif ferent plane. The American laborer must have better -clothes,, ,better houses,, bet ter food. His wants axe more thank God for that! and they must be supplied. He is to live and labor, educate his children, and his ashes are to repose here among his kindred. What he earns is to be spent here among his own countrymen, and not In some foreign land. The Chinese la borers are not without points of merit. They are docile, patient and have remark able power of endurance, but their neces sities are few and, easily satisfied. They are but human machines of the lowest or der. They may, if need be, subsist upon what the American laborer throws away upon what we would be ashamed to sec him obliged to live upon. "The Republican party adheres to the wholesome doctrine of protection against unfair competition with alien cheap la bor, and the country itself is the amplest testimony as to the wisdom of this policy. The admission of Chinese laborers whose condition is so far below ours is in flag rant violation of the very principle and purpose of protection. If the Chinese would speedily rise to our standard the case would be different. But experience unfortunately demonstrates that they con tinue upon a lower plane, and the Inevi table tendency Is to bring American labor to their undesirable level. Can it be pos sible that American laborand Chinese la bor can work side by side, the one re ceiving less than the other in wages and subsisting upon much less than the other? It follows as night the day that the lower paid and lower fed will caue his higher pald and better fed competitor to come down to his unfortunate condition. Against this we enter our protest. We do it from no ungenerous motive toward the Chinese Empire; we do it out of Na tional self-respect and in our National self-interest, and no one can Justly chal lenge the wisdom of our policy. "The necessity of an early enactment of the pending measure Is urgent. On May 5 next the act approved May 5, 1S92, known as- the Geary law, and which continued In force the then existing laws, will ex. plre, and the Executive Department will be without the requisite authority and power to debar from admission the Chi nese whose exclusion is so essential in the interest of laborers of the United States upon the Pacific Coast and elsewhere." When Fairbanks had concluded his re marks, Gallinger indicated a doubt in his mind as to the propriety of the enact ment of some provisions of the proposed law, lest they should be in contravention of our treaty obligations with China. Ho declared that he never would vote for the measure if he should be convinced that it was in violation of solemn treaty obliga tions. Both Penrose and Mitchell assured Gal linger that there was no violation of treaty obligations, the former saying that the provisions regarding the exempted classes were based entirely upon existing law and regulations, and were as liberal as they could be made. Fairbanks read from the testimony given by Mr. Dunn before the immigration com mittee to show that Immense numbers of Chinese were brought into this country bearing fraudulent certificates of admis sion, many of them being in collusion with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. Piatt of Connecticut Insisted that the United States could not afford to disre gard its treaties with any nation, partic ularly with a nation which was unable to defend itself. He desired to know whether the definitions in the bill of the excepted classes were satisfactory to China and whether they were within the scope of our treaty with China. He said those defini tions were fixed in this bill entirely arbi trarily; and he thought China might have a right to complain seriously of the spirit of the United States in construing the treaty. Concerning the importation of Chinese women into this country for immoral pur poses, to which reference had been made, Gallinger suggested that conditions among other peoples than Chinese were very de plorable in San Francisco. Similar condi tions existed, according to tle authorities, in Boston and New York, and it was not necessary, he said, to go far from the dome of the Capitol here in Washington to find gross immorality. Without any action on the bill the Sen ate then, at 4:3 P. M.. went Into execu- I tive session, and at 4:45 P. M. adjourned. GANAL IN DANGER Given a Back Place on the Senati Calendar. DOES DELAY MEAN DEFEAT? Philippine, Cuban Reciprocity, Reve nue and Appropriation Bills Are on Top of It, and It 3Iay Xot Asrain Reach Daylight. WASHINGTON, April 5. While the pos itive assertion Is made by members of the steering committee that the action of that committee today in giving the Phil- ippine tariff bill right of way ahead of the canal bill is not against the inter est of the canal, there are some who be lieve that it has been a serious blow to the canal. Some members of the steer ing committee have quietly charged oth er members with having placed the Phil ippine bill ahead of the Nicaragua Canal bill with the deliberate purpose of de feating the canal measure. This is de nied, and it is asserted that the canal bill shall have consideration and a vote before adjournment. But with an understanding tthat the Cu ban reciprocity measure is to be con sidered as a revenue bill, and that it and appropriation bills are to have the right of way, there will be a long postponement of the canal bill. A very prominent member of the steering committee said today that in his judgment today's course means serious antagonism to the canal. Those Senators who are earnestly in favor of the canal assert that they will do all in their power to prevent adjournment be fore the canal bill is voted on. OPPOSITION CROPPING OCT. A's Shown by Debate on Chinese Ex clusion Bill. WASHINGTON, April 5. The debate has progressed far enough on the Chinese ex clusion bill to show difference of opinion on b'oth sides of the Senate. Opposition is developing to a considerable extent, and it 'is well known that the Canadian Pa cific and all its connecting lines in tho United States are exercising every Influ ence possible to defeat the present meas ure and tp secure the adoption of tho Gear' law. The opposition that is shown to the law in some New England States may be ac counted for to a certain extent by these influences, especially where the labor or ganizations are not strong in politics. Notwithstanding the opposition that has developed, it seems certain that the bill will not be amended, and that' it will pass the Senate. Legislation for Alaska. Representative Jenkins, of Wisconsin, today introduced a bill granting a 200 foot right of way from Valdes to Eagle City, Alaska, to the Alaskan Gulf, & Yu kon Railway Company, also alternate sec tions of public land lying within 10 miles of the road on either side. The proposed route ls'about 400 miles long. These sec tions are not to be turned over to trie company, however, until tho road is in operation. Upon the passage of the bill the Secretary is authorized to withdraw from entry all unoccupied lands within five miles of the proposed line of road. Representative McClaclan, of California, today introduced a bill amending the Alaska code by permlttinff the District Judges? of Alaska to divide the territory into three recording divisions, and to des ignate the court to supervise each and to appoint commissioners for the several divisions. SUCCESS IS ASSURED. Irrigation Bill Will Pass If Speaker Permits It to Come Up. WASHINGTON, April 5. The friends of irrigation are jubilant .tonight over the fact that the House committee today re-, ported the Senate " Irrigation bill, with practically every amendment suggested by the President In recent Interviews. The bill as reported will take the place i of the bill now on the calendar, and will That he'8 lost his appetite. sgs g5?JSSE&t ""?HJg4 -.. ' have the support of the National Irriga tion Association and of the President. These two influences combined are ex pected to bring Into line a number of Eastern Republicans, whose support is necessary to pass tfie bill. The bill has been ' amended in a way to prevent reclaimed lands falling into the hand of corporations qr speculators, and does away with the objectionable state control feature that was displeasing to the President It is asserted very posi tively, by the most enthusiastic friends of the bill, that if the Speaker will al low it to come up, its passage is assured at this session. In any event. Its pros pects were never brighter. TO SAVE SEAIi INDUSTRY. Bill in the Home for Joint Action With Great Britain. WASHINGTON, April 5. Representative Beldler, of Ohio, today Introduced a bill authorizing the President to negotiate with Great Britain with a view to the restoration and preservation of the fur seal industry of Alaska and the abate ment of the wholesale and indiscriminate killing. The bill authorizes the President to issue a modus vlvendi, pending this agreement, prohibiting the killing of fur seals by the subjects of Great Britain and this country. Some of the young male seals on St. George and St. Paul Islands used as food for the natives are excepted. The modus vlvendi Is to remain In force until abrogated by mutual agreement of the two countries. If the modus Is not negotiated before the pelagic sealing sea son of 1902 opens, the Secretary of the Treasury may, with the approval of the President, take and kill all fur seals, male and female, found on the Prlbloff Isl ands, but not less than 10,000 female and 1000 male seals shall be left thereon. The skins of seals so killed are to be sold to the best advantage. NIGGER IN THE WOODPILE. Senators Looking for Him, in the Bullion Dollar Blir. WASHINGTON, April 5. Some Senators who are not members of tne committee on' Philippines have been looking very anxiously to find If there Is a "wood chuck" in that section providing for un limited coinage of a. Philippine bullion dollar. There are people about Washington who still remember that a fat thing was made out of the so-called trade dollars when they were redeemed. Those who were on the Inside and knew that the trade dollar was tp be redeemed at par bought them up in great numbers at the discounted price. Possibly some amendment will be offered to the bill, providing that these Philippine dollars shall never be redeemed, except at their bullion value. It is very doubtful Tf the Senate scheme will pass, but there Is a very earnest de sire to establish the gold standard In tho Philippines and prevent the fluctuation of the currency in those Islands. Tho Philippine bullion dollar will continue to fluctuate, say the men In the House who are expert in matters of finance, and there will be the disturbed condition of the finances of the Islands so long as the standard is not the same as that of the United States. The coinage of the silver dollar will serve only the purpose of af fording a unarkct for the silver "mines, according to the view of those who aro opposing the Senate provision. MISS STONE'S LECTURES. One Hundred 'Will Be Given in the Principal Cities. NEW TORK, April" 5. Major Pond to day closed a contract with Miss Ellen M. Stone, the missionary, for a series of 100 lectures, to be given in the principal cities of the United States. Xjltc Imprisonment. SAN FRANCISCO, April 5. Informa tion furnished in this city and secured in other localities indicates that the men al leged to have been detailed to destroy the forts in Esquimau in 1900 are now life prisoners in the Kingston, Ont, peniten tiary for attempting to blow up the Thor old lock of the Welland Canal some weeks after the projected attempt on the Es quimau fortifications. They were convict ed under the names of John Nolan, John Walch and Karl Dallman, though the statement has been published that Dall man in in reality Luke Dillon, a former Irish Nationalist loader. Dillon's friends however, have said that he is dead, hav ing been drowned In Ireland. v Diaz May Visit Us. CITY OF MEXICO, April 5. Talk of President Diaz visiting the UnUed States this Summer Is heard Jit political circles. IN PEOPLE'S HANDS Success or Failure of Strike Arbitration Movement. HANNA AND G0MPERS SPEAK Achievements of the Civic Federa tion's Conciliation Committee, Its Possibilities and Its Limitations. . ' PHILADELPHIA, April 5. Senator Hanna waa the principal speaker at the closing session of the sixth annual meet ing the Academy of Political and Social Science. He divided hi3 subject with Samuel Gompers, president of the Ameri can Federation of Labor, and the ques tion of the relation of capital and labor was discussed by the two speakers. Sen ator Hanna's topic was "Industrial Con ciliation and Arbitration," and Mr. Gom pers spoke on "Its Possibilities and Llm. ItatIons." Senator Hanna began his address by re ferring to the efforts of the National Civic Federation to effect the condition of in dustrial peace. The Industrial depart ment of the civic federation, he said, al though only two years old, had settled seven strikes In three months, and pre vented the occurrence of two strikes which would have rendered idle more than 200,000 men. Senator Hanna stated that he had first become interested in the sub ject of tho amicable adjustment of differ ences between employer and employo dur ing the Ohio coal strike in 1874. The necessities growing out of the vast productive capacity In this country, said Senator Hanna, have forced the condition of the aggregation of capital, the creation of wealth in concrete form. To absorb it and to render it valuable as an industrial Investment we must have industrial peace. The civic federation Is beginning to lay the foundation of such a result. "This question," he continued, "rests in the people's hands. If we have not the sympathy of the people we cannot hope to succeed. My experience of 30 years as an employer hastaught me that the em ployer Is expecte'd to go more than half way In meeting the employe. We are re sponsible to provide work, and to see that the men shall receive a fair share of the benefits. I believe in organized labor, and it is a demonstrated fact that labor con ditions are benefited when entrusted to an honest leader. Organized labor is a condition that must be met." Senator Hanna denounced socialism as inimical to society and to Industrial de velopment. Socialistic ideas, he said, "are un-American and unnatural to us as a people." President Gompers' remarks referred chiefly to tho question of strikes and lock outs. Much as a strike of laboring men is to be deplored, said he, such action by the wage-earner Is the highest civilized expression of discontent among workmen. A strike Is a protest against wrong and In justice when there Is no other way of se curing redress. "Every means within the power of every man, capitalist, laborer or neutral," said the speaker, "should be exerted to avert strikes. Yet there are some things worse than strikes, among them a de graded, debased or demoralized manhood." Mr. Gompers expressed opposition to compulsory arbitration as being valueless. He said the civic federation was endeav oring to bring about commercial and in dustrial strength without friction. Oscar S. Straus. ex-United States Minis ter to Turkey, also spoke. STRIKERS ARE 'CONDEMNED. Situation at Butte Takes on a More Favorable Aspect. BUTTE, Mont., April 5. The situation fn connection with the recent walk-out of the hoisting engineers Is taking on a more favbrable aspect. The Engineers' Union has given out an open letter to Presi dent Scallon, of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, In which it pledges It self to the strict observance of all agree ments existing between It and the com pany. The striking engineers are uni versally condemned for their action. Sev eral new crews have been employed and are being put through a thorough course of practice to determine their competency. The engineers' union Is lending Its aid to the companies In putting on new men. Hartford Brewers' Demands. HARTFORD. Conn., April 5. Unless the brewers of this city and their employes arrive at an agreement before Sunday night, the latter declare they will go out on a strike Monday morning. The employes demand that during the Winter months the hours be chantred from nine 'to eight hours,-and also that the union be allowed to select the men to go to work In the breweries. This latter clause the brewers say they will sign under no conditions. Paper-Makers on Strike. APPLETON, Wis., April 5. The big strike in the . Wisconsin paper manu facturing district, which has been pend ing for four months, materialized this evening at 6 o'clock, when the day crews of eight paper-mills finished their work and the night crews failed to report for duty. The mills in which the strike be gan are the two at Kaukauana, two at Marinette, two at Grand Rapids, one at Nekoosa, and one at Port Edward. In all about 500 went out tonight. Twelve hundred men in Wisconsin mills are now out. Weavers on Strike. 'PROVIDENCE, R. I., April 5. The weavers at the Moessup, Conn., plant of the American Woolen Company, to the number of 125, struck today in sympathy with the Olneyvllle, R. I., strikers. This extension of the strike brings a total of 11 plants in the combine under the ban of the union. There are now about 2700 looms idle because of the trouble, and about "4000 weavers are out. Smelter Strike Settled. PRESCOTT, Ariz., April 5. The strike of smelter and converter men at the United Verde mines, which has been on for several days at Jerome, was settled today and the men wlll'go to work Mon day. The strike necessitated the closing down of the smelter. COGHLAN IS PARDONED. President Restores the Eleven Num bers He Lost Some Yearn Ago. WASHINGTON, April 5. The President today signed a pardon In the case of Cap tain Joseph B. Coghlan, who lo3t 11 num bers In his grade some years ago as a result of an unusually sharp letter writ ten by him to the detail officer of the Navy Department. As one of the Cap tains at the battle of Manila Bay, Cap tain Coghlan was advanced so as to make up a good deal of tho ground lost. The President's action today makes up the rest of the ground and places him at the head of the list of Captains, along with Captain Sands. At the retirement or Admiral Farquhar, both will become Ad mirals. Captain Coghlan Is carried as an additional number in grade and thus his advacement will not interfere with the promotions of the Captains below him. President Roosevelt's action was In fluenced strongly by a letter from Rear Admiral Henry C. Taylor, the new Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, who, among others, earnestly urged the restoration to Captain Coghlan of the lost numbers. BAGGAGE INSPECTION ABUSE. Want of Definite Charges Makes In vestigation Impossible. WASHINGTON, April 5. Secretary of the Treasury Shaw has sent a letter to each of the ladles who recently signed a paper addressed to him complaining of the 1J1 treatment, etc., at the hands of baggage Inspectors at ,the nojTLoiNew York. Tile letter states that on receipt of the petition a circular letter was sent to each signer asking for a more specific statement, and the facts upon which the conclusions recited in the petition were based. This circular was sent to 1020 ladles whose addresses were given In the peti tion. A little over 300 were returned for want of sufficient address. Of the re maining 700 the department has received 1S5 answers on the following grievances: That receipted bills are not accepted as proof of value: that duties are often Im posed upon old clothing; that trunks are emptied' on the wharf; impertinent ques tions are asked and remarks made which are humiliating. The want of definite charges, the Sec retary's letter continue", renders it well nigh impossible to conduct a specific In vestigation. The department, he says, will do all In Its power to reduce legiti mate cause of complaint to the mini mum. FIRST CASE TO BE ARBITRATED. Plus Claim. Submitted to The Hague Tribunal. WASHINGTON, April 5. Powell Clay ton, United States Ambissador to Mexico, has secured the submission of the first case to The Hague arbitration. For a third of a century the United States Gov ernment has been trying to effect a set tlement with the Mexican Government of the celebrated Plus claim, involving about $1,000,000, and just beforo leaving the City of Mexico for Washington, Mr. Clay ton succeeded in reaching -an agreement with the Mexican Government for the submission of this claim to The Hague tribunal for settlement by arbitration. This claim Involves a dispute between the Catholic Church, of California, and the Government of Mexico, as to the lia bility of the latter for the Interest upon certain church lands which the Mexican Government undertook to hold as trus tee for the church. Hawaiian Land Lmrs. WASHINGTON, April 5 An opinion rendered' today by the Assistant Attorney-General for the Interior Depart ment and approved by the Secretary, holds that the general laws of the United States, Including those relating to rights of way, have no application In Hawatf, and that until otherwise provided for by Congress, the Hawaiian laws furnish the only authority for the disposition and management of these islands. The opin ion further holds that under certain statutes, which are part of those adopt ed by Consrress for the time being, the territorial officers are clothed with au thority to grant rights of way through the public lands for ditches, canals and reservoirs to be employed in storing and conveying water to be used in the recla mation and irrigation of arid lands. Ambassador Clayton Exonerated. WASHINGTON, April 5. The authorita tive statement was made today that United States Ambassador Clayton has explained fully and to the satisfaction of both the President and Secretary Hay all the charges that have been made against him In regard to the cases pending before tho Mexican courts, and also concerning his own personal conduct. In the court cases to which reference has been made. It is stated that Mr. Clayton acted under exact instructions from the Department of State, showing great zeal. Industry and ability In the defense of the rights of American citizens. Mr. Clayton will return to his post at the City of Mexico after a brief holiday spent in Washington with his daughter. Expenses of Coronation Embassy. WASHINGTON, April 5. It is said that Congress will not be asked for an ap propriation to defray the expenses of the United States special embassy to the coronation of King Edward. Their ex penses will be defrayed by the civilians of the party, out of their own pockets, while the Army and Navy attaches will be ordered to London in the course of duty, and thus have to depend upon their ordinary mileage. CAMPAIGN IS ON France in the Throes of an Election Period. DECLARATIONS OF CANDIDACY Indications Point to the Success of the Ministerialists There Is No Great Issue at Stake, ., PARIS, April 5. France has entered into the throes of an election period. Imme diately aftef the session closed Sunday, tho members of the Chamber of Deputies left Paris for their respective constituencies, and are already actively engaged In canvassing and making addresses to the electors. Thursdays was the first day for the dec larations of candidacy at the various pre fectures, and up to yesterday no fewer than 1000 candidates had presented them selves. There are 179 candidates for the 46 seats representing Paris and the De. partment of the Seine. Paris has become a paradise for bill posters, and every available , wall space seems already to have been covered with multi-colored electoral posters. The com mon trick of candidates of printing their declarations upon trl-colored paper has been stopped this year by a decision of Parliament prohibiting the use of the Na tional colors. The custom which has hitherto prevailed of smothering national monuments under a hideous coating of election bills has also been prohibited. An Initial note has been struck by the Woman's Suffrage League, which has is sued a pink illustrated placard, represent ing a man standing beside a ballot-box, politely bowing to a woman and asking her to vote first. The Ministerialists express confidence that they will be victorious in the elec tions. M. Waldeck-Rousseau, the Prem ier, will remain in Paris, from which point he can engineer the whole Ministerial campaign. He can exert; through the Prefects, telling influence In aid of the governmental candidates. It cannot be said that the life of, the republic is at stake In the present elec tion, which will be a struggle between the Ministerialists and the adversaries of the government, mainly composed of Nation alists, moderate Republicans, under M. Mellne, and uncompromising Socialists, who oppose the co-operation of M. Mil lerand. the Minister of Commerce, with the- Ministry. Present Indications lead to the belief that the last two named will lose ground. The Nationalists have begun a spirit ed campaign, and are actively stumping the country. Their leading spirit, the writer, Jules Lemaltre, Is very sanguine, predicting a majority for his party of SO. He gives as the chief plank in the Re visionist programme a change in the meth od electing the President. He advocates the election of the Chief Magistrate by a system similar to the United States. Tho Chief Executive, he says, would thu3 become the chief man of the nation. In stead of, as nqw, the prisoner of the Par Hamentarlans. Xot n Boundary Engineer. NEW YORK. April 5. Minister of Pub lic Works Tarte insists, says an Ottawa, Ont., dispatch to the Tribune, that no engineer employed by the Canadian Gov ernment Is nearer to the Alaskan boun dary line than White Horse Pas and that no such person as Richard Frazer, who Is reported to have destroyed Rus sian markers on the border. Is at work for the government. Bnrled Beneath a Mountain. BUTTE. Mont., April 5. The body of James Ryar, who was burled In a cave In the Anaconda mine Ave days ago. was recovered early this morning. A whole level gave way, burying Ryan beneath almost a mountain of rocks and ore. Tho body was fearfully mangled. SUMMARY OF THE DAY'S NEWS. Congress. Senator Fairbanks spoke for Chinese exclusion. Pago 2. Speeches were made In the House In favor of the exclusion bill. Page 3. Three minority reports on the reciprocity bill were filed. Page 2. Foreign. The French parliamentary campaign has opened. Page 1. The Porte protests against Italy's doings in Tripoli. Pago 2. j Many persons were hurt at a football gamo at Glasgow. Page 9. Domestic. Gompers and Hanna spoke on industrial arbi tration at Philadelphia. Page 1. Hlrschy, of Minneapolis, won the Grand Amer ican handicap at Kansas City. Pai?e 3. Serious charges of corruption are made against St. Louis Assembly men. Page 10. Secretary Hay makes public the correspondence in regard to the British camp at Chalmette, La. Pago 17. Mnrine. Custom-houso receipts from duties In March were over $77,000. Page 11. British ship Muskoka makes another record breaking passage. Page 11. British ship Speke arrives after lone passage from Adelaide. Page 11. April Oriental flour shipments will be In excess of 100,000 barrels. Page 11. Pacific Const. Salmon-Ashing season on Columbia opens April 15. Page 17. Governor McBrlde has no desire to go to Sen ate. Page 0. "Washington delegation in Congress asked to aid in getting appropriation for Vancouver barracks. Page 8. Many people en route to Thunder Mountain. Page 7. Democratic conventions In several Oregon coun ties. Page T. Portland and Vicinity. Oregon City electric car collides with Southern Pacific train. Page 9. Marie McPherson, 9 years old, killed by East Side streeet-car. Page 16. City Council again orders repaying of Fourth street. Page 24. Mrs. Edward Palmer kills herself at Falrvlew. Page 24. Features and Departments. Cost of the Charleston Exposition buildings. Page 23. "What to Eat and How to Eat It. A String of Indian Beads. Punishment In the Public Schools. Proved Value of Vaccination. Half-True Tale of the Shadow of a Star. Questions and Answers. Scrap-Book. Social. Page 20. Dramatic and Musical. Page 18. Books.