One successful effort in this direction was the Page Act of 1875, that forbade the migration of women believed to be inclined to engaging in prostitution and anybody coming to the United States as a forced laborer.

The bill forbade sea vessels from bringing in more than fifteen Chinese passengers in any single voyage to the United States.

Ship masters were required to present a sworn list of all Chinese passengers upon arrival, and violators could be fined $100 and six months in prison.

However, Rutherford B. Hayes, President of the United States at the time, vetoed the bill because it violated the terms of the Burlingame Treaty.

[2][3][5] Hayes sent a commission led by James Burrill Angell to China to negotiate a new treaty to allow restrictions on Chinese immigration.