in the United States was restricted to those who had property to the value of $1000, or a wife or children in the country, and the government of the United States was authorized to adopt suitable regulations to prevent fraud. Provision was also made in the treaty for an indemnity to be paid the Chinese government to compensate for the loss of life and property of Chinese laborers occasioned by riots at Rock Springs in Wyoming, Tacoma in the State of Washington, and at other places, growing out of the antipathy and opposition to Chinese.
The treaty was ratified by the Senate of the United States with certain amendments, and the Chinese government likewise proposed amendments. While these negotiations were taking place a presidential electoral campaign was in progress, the labor unions of the Pacific States were especially clamorous for the adoption of further restrictions on Chinese immigration, and the votes of those States seemed likely to be cast in favor of the presidential candidate whose party was most radical in its opposition to the Chinese. Under the spur of the exigencies of the campaign and the uncertainty of the ratification of the new treaty by the Chinese government, a law was hastily passed through Congress absolutely prohibiting the admittance of Chinese laborers into the United States. Although this legislation, known as the Scott Act, was in direct violation of treaty, President Cleveland allowed it to become a law, justifying his action by the failure of China to ratify the new treaty; but he recommended that the indemnity provided for in the treaty on account of the
