Fergus County argus., 1888-10-11

SAN FRANdIsCO, Oct. 1.-The news Oi
President Cleveland's s approval of the
Chinese exclusion bill was received
here to-day with n marked degree OF
interest. Large crowds congregatet ed
around the newspaper bulletin boards
and discussed the situati ion. The news
reached this quarter Of the town early,
and an announcement OF the approval
of the bill was soon posted on the bul-
letin board here. The Chinese mani
tested considerable excitement. The
principal subject of discussion here is
rs I o what effect it will have upon the
several thousand Chinese who have
arrived here within the past year, and
been landed by the federal courts 3 upon
writs of habeas corpus, and who are
out on bail, awaiting examination;
and also upon the 1000 more Chinese
who are now on their way to this
port. About 200 arrived Saturday
on the steamer New York. The Belgic
will he here next Thursday with 500
more. Three other steamers are now
on the Pacific with over I 900 Chinese
bound for this port. There is cOnsid-
cradle speculation as to whether the
courts will permit these Chinese to
come ashore on writs of habeas cor
p,is, and their release upon bail pend
ing examination, or compel them to
remain on board the steamer and re-
4 70, ('l.spn tDo,t r<Sll..,t II
expressed himself to-day as being
''I'he present bill, he said, lis intended
to exclude the Chinese. So was the
restriction act, but did the restriction
act exclude them? Ii the same prin-
ciple is applied to this bill as was ap-
piled to ths other, don't see that it is
going to be any great improvement.
II the courts can continue to land the
Chinese and allow hem on our soil on
bail, that will abrOgrate any kind OF
restriction attempted by congress
When they are allowed bail they are
in the country. and they then forfeit |
their bail and remain here in spite of |
the law"
The collector concluded by stating |
that in all probability he would. when
officially informed Of the passage and |
approval of the bill, refuse landing to |
Chinese, whether bearing return certiti-
Gates or not, unless writs OF habeas
corpus were issued by the courts. in
which ease the mat ter would he out OF
my hands. United States District At
torney Casey stated that in his Opin-
ion he hill could not affect the 1900
Chinese now out on bail, but he be-
lieved those now on the way here
would he refused landing. He fnrthe
stated that he did not believe writs OF
habeas corpus would be issued except,
possibly, i'm one or two eases. in order
o make u test of the matter i'm the
courts.
A prominent lawyer, who handles
Chinese cases almost exclusively i'm the
federal courts, stated that in his Opin-
ion writs of habeas corpus would still
have to lie issued to Chinese demand
ing them. as it was constitutional
right, and that bail also would have
to he issued as heret Ofore. He also
the belief that all Chinese
holding return certificates would re-
turn to this country in spite of the
exclusion bill, as the United States
supreme court has decided on several
that congress cannot annul
existing contracts such as these GER
iticates are.
Demonstrations were held in this
-ity and Ot her places in the state this
evening" celebrating the passage and
OF the bill.