’FRISCO MAIL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 422, 22 May 1902, Page 1

’FRISCO MAIL NEWS.

CHINESE EXCLUSION BILL,

(By Telegraph.) Per B.M.S. Sonoma at Auckland

San Francisco, May 1

Congress has passed the Chinese Exclusion Bill. There were only five days more in which the measure at present in effect would continue to be so. The new Bill, in compromise, will be stronger in effect than that asked for by the Pacific Coast. The Bill, broadly speaking, is covered as follows: All existing Chinese inclusion law's arc continued in effect “ until otherwise provided by law.” Sections 0 to 14 of the Act of September 13, 1888, except Section 12, are specifically re enacted. The.exclusion laws are extended to the insular territory of tho United States. All Chinese in island territory, except Hawaii, must bo registered in . one year, registration in the Philippines being placed in the hands of the Philippine Commission. This will end a long and bitter controversy, and the Pacific C oast will become more strongly Bepubliean because of having been permitted a voice in the adjustment of the vexed question of Chinese immigration. At the same time the fruitgrowers and others of the West will be much disappointed, as the Chinese have been most faithful laborers in orchards and vineyards, and it is not yet upparent where cheap labor can be secured with which to take the places of the Chinese, who, after becoming accustomed to the W'ays of their adopted country, usually are able to find some employment more profitable to themselves than the work of the fruit ranches, which leaves them to some extent idle during a part of the year at least. The ranches are compelled to employ more labor during the harvesting season than any other time, and now that they can no longer rely upon the Chinese it is doubtful whether their industry can be made to pay. The railways of late show' a disposition to give

growers more liberal rates than w'ere allowed formerly, and in this lies the only hope of the producers that this great industry can bo maintained in the West. SHIPPING COMBINE.

•J. Picrpont Morgan has gained contro of the ( Trans-Atlantic traffic between Europe and America. The lines now held by the Steamship Trust have a total tonnage of over a million. A number of new vessels are in process of construction. Beyond this, Mr Morgan is said to have reached a working agreement with the two great German lines. The value of this combination of passenger and freight ships is nearly two hundred million dollars. The Cunarcl and Hamburg American lines are still in doubt, but persons in a position to know are confident that these powerful Companies will come into the combine. The lines known to be in are the White Star, Bed Star, Leyland, Atlantic, Transport, American, and Dominion. Having accomplished so much, Mr Morgan is now giving attention to the Pacific lines. It is expected tint the combine will soon becotre world wide in scope. Mr Hill is now building at New London two of the largest steamships in the world, and it is believed that Mr Hill’s interests are with those of the Oceanic Compauy. The Pacific Coast Company and sevoral steamship lines plying to South American ports will all soon be under the control of the great steamship trust. BRITISH SERVICE IN AMERICA. A telegram from New York, dated April 29th, says that the British service in America is being carried on without regard to the extent of expenditure. This generosity is intended to pacify Americans and keep them quiet. Official figures show that up to last October the British shipped 289,000 horses and mules from this country to South Africa, and expended 47,000,000 dollars here. THE PHILIPPINES. Politicians at Washington have been desperately busy of late with charges and counter charges regarding the conduct of the campaign in the Philippines. Several courts-martial have resulted, but it bogins to appear that matters were not so bad after all. Major Waller, accused of undue severity in the island of Samar, testified that he only carried out the orders of liia superior officer, General Jacob Smith, when he ordered Samar to be made a howling wilderness, and ordered the soldiers to “Kill everything over ton.” Lato despatches shedding light upon the matter follow. From cablegrams ic has received from Manilla the War Department is disposed to justify General Smith’s order 11 to kill and burn and make Satnar a howling wilderness.” An official said to-day, “ General Smith was perfectly justified in issuing that order, and his justification comes under rule No. 100, issued in 1863, and approved by President Lincoln. Those politicians who are trying to make capital out of this order do not seem to remember that rule 100 was approved last year by the Hague Convention as the most perfect impression of cases where quarter may be suspended in war. Quarter may be suspended where the other side refuses quarter. Tie natives of Samar did that. From the

little evidence we have it is perfectly plain that General Smith acted within the rules of war, and if he did he will Joe upheld by this Department without regard to politics.” Washington, April ‘29.—The Senate Committee on the Philippines to-day resumed the examination of witnesses in connection with the investigation of affairs in the Philippines. General Arthur Macarthur continued his testimony. He explained the statement in his annual report of June 80, 1900, thatthe United States had acquired sovereignty by treaty, and in a way owned the Philippine Islands but did not own the Philippine people,” by saying that these conclusions were reached after conversations with an infinite number of people and observation, and represented the bulk of the views of the Nationalist Party. He then, in response to questions by Senator Patterson, described the different towns embraced within the American lines on the night of February 5, 1599, when the outbreak occurred, and identified what purported to be the copy of an order of General Luna for the massacre of the foreign residents of Manila. Senator Patterson sought to show that it was not difficult to deceive Aquinaldo by forgery, and referred to his capture by General Fumslone through a forged letter signed “La Cunn.” General McArthur, with considerable emphasis, declared that General Fumstone was not responsible in any way for any methods which obtained in the capture of Aquinaldo. “ I am responsible in that matter in every way and particular,” said General McArthur. “It was one of the deceptions frequently practised in war, and whatever blame attaches thereto I take.”