friendly and amicable relations with Asia remain undisturbed.  It needs no argument to show that the policy which we now propose to adopt must have a direct tendency to repel Oriental nations from us and to drive their trade and commerce into more friendly lands.  It may be that the great and paramount interest of protecting our labor from Asiatic competition may justify us in a permanent adoption of this policy; but it is wiser in the first place to make a shorter experiment, with a view hereafter of maintaining permanently only such features as time and experience may commend.

I transmit herewith copies of the papers relating to the recent treaty with China, which accompanied the confidential message of President Hayes to the Senate of the 10th January, 1881, and also a copy of a memorandum respecting the act herewith returned, which was handed to the Secretary of State by the Chinese minister in Washington.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 1, 1882.

To the House of Representatives of the United States:

Herewith I return House bill No. 2744, entitled “An act to regulate the carriage of passengers by sea,” without my approval.  In doing this I regret that I am not able to give my assent to an act which has received the sanction of the majority of both Houses of Congress.

The object proposed to be secured by the act is meritorious and philanthropic.  Some correct and accurate legislation upon this subject is undoubtedly necessary.  Steamships that bring large bodies of emigrants must be subjected to strict legal enactments, so as to prevent the passengers from being exposed to hardship and suffering; and such legislation should be made as will give them abundance of space and air and light, protecting their health by affording all reasonable comforts and conveniences and by providing for the quantity and quality of the food to be furnished and all of the other essentials of roomy, safe, and healthful accommodations in their passage across the sea.

A statute providing for all this is absolutely needed, and in the spirit of humane legislation must be enacted.  The present act, by most of its provisions, will obtain and secure this protection for such passengers, and were it not for some serious errors contained in it it would be most willingly approved by me.

My objections are these:  In the first section, in lines from 13 to 24, inclusive, it is provided “that the compartments or spaces,” etc., “shall be of sufficient dimensions to allow for each and any passenger,” etc., “100 cubic feet, if the compartment or space is located on the first deck next below the uppermost deck of the vessel,” etc., “or 120 cubic feet for each passenger,” etc., “if the compartment or space is located on the second deck below the uppermost deck of the vessel,” etc.  “It shall not be lawful to carry or bring passengers on any deck other than the two decks mentioned,” etc.