The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-02
THE NEWS IN CALiFoRNIA.
Efficacy Of the Law Dorbted-Habeas
Corpus a Constitutional Right.

SAN FRANeIsCo, Oct. News of Presi-
deEt Cleyelaaa's approval of the Chinese
exclusion bill wes received here to-day
with marked degree o. interest. Large
crowds congrcgaied around the newspaper
bulletin boards aud discussed the situation.
The news reached the Chinese quarter OF
the town early, and the announce
nient OF the approval oi the bill was soon
pasted on the bulletin boards there. The
Chinese manifested considerable excite
ment The principal subject of discussion
mere is as to what effect the bill VIE have
upon the several Thousand Chinese who
have arrived here within the past year aud
been landed by the federal courts upon
writs OF habeas corpus and are now out on
bail awaitihg examination, also upon tue
2uoo Cinnamon who are now on their way
TO this port. About 20 Chinese arrived
here on saturday Oh the City OF New York
The Belgie will be due next Thursday with
SOD. Three other steamers are now on the
Pacific with over lapO Celestiass bound for
this port There is considerable specuia-
ton as to whether the courts win permit
these Cinnamon 10 come ashore ON writs of
habras corpus and then release them upon
bail pending examination. OF compel them
10 remain aboard the steamers and return
to their own country.
Collector of the Port Hager expressed
himself to-day as being doubtful OF the
bills effectiveness. .The present bill,
he said. s-is intended to exclude Chinese.
30 was the restriction act But did the
restriction act exclude thems II the same
principle is applied to this bill as was ap-
plied 10 the other, l don't see that IL Is
going 10 be any great Improvement. II the
courts can continue to land Chinese on
habaas corpus and allow them on our soil
on bail, thai viii abrogete any kind OF re-
striction attempted by congress. When
they are allowed bail they are In the coun-
try, and they then forfeit their bail and re-
tsaff, fsers. In SpIfe of the law.
The collector concluded by stating that
In an probability he wonld. when officially
informed of the passage aud approval OF
the bill, refuse landing TO Chinese whether
beasing return certificates or not, unless
writs OF habeas corpus were issued by the
courts, ia which case the matter would be
out OF his hands.
United states District Attorney Carey
stated that in his opinion, IL could not
affect the 300 Chinese now cut on bail,
bat lie believed those now ON their v ay
here would be refused landing. He further
stated that he did not believe wfits Of
nabeas corpus would be issued, except
possibly in one or two cases, in order 10
make a test OF the matter in the courts
A prHTaiueut lawyer. who handles Chi
nfse cases almost exclusively in the fed
cral courts, stated that, in his opinion,
wrifs Of habeas corpus would have Ia be
issued 10 Chinese demanding them. as u
was a constitutional right, AID bail would
have TO he iSSuen as heretofore. ne aiso
EXPRESSED the belief that al Chinese bold
ing return certificates could return 70 this
country in spite Of the exclusion bill, es
the United states supreme court has de-
eiaed on several occasions that congress
cannot aHnui existing contracts, such as
these certificates are.
Demonstrations were held in this city
ana other places in the state this evening
t. celebrate the passage aud approval OF
the bill
An impromptu parade apd large mass
meeting at Metropolitan hall under tue
auspices of the Democratic state central
committee tonight gave opportunity i"f
the citizens of san Francisco to express
their iOy at the signing of the Chinese eX-
clusion bin by President Cleveland. At
the headquarters of both the Republican,
and Democratic committees dispatches ~
eangrstula;ion from number OF points ~
the state we're read. showing conclnaVeis
that public sentiment stamped this a a
red-letier day ia the history Of California.