The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-05-17
THE GEARY LAW |vOPERAT|VE
There Are No Funds Available for Its
Enforcement.
DISCUSSED BY THE CABINET
Characterized by Prominent Official as a
Political Scheme-Surprise at the
Decision.
DISCUSSED BY TIE CABINET
Associated Press.

Associated Press.
Washington, May 16.-The Chimes,
question required the entire attention
of the cabinet at its meeting today
Before the cabinet meeting Chief Jus
tice Fuller, who dissented from the de
cision of the supreme court, called a.
the White House and had a brief tall
with the president. Subsequently the
chief justice had an interview with
Secretary Gresham. 1t is understood
the conclusion reached by the cabinet
was that the law could not be enforced
for the reason that there was no money
available for the purpose. The act on
ly carries an appropriation of 100000.
| Secretary Carlisle showed that not
more than $4,000 of that sum remain
ed. 1t is estimated that it would cost
| to deport all the Chinese now in the
| country who have not compiled with
! the law more than S6,000,000. This
statement exhibited what one member
of the cabinet called the utter inability
of the government to give any effect
to the law without further action by
congress. Under the circumstances 1t
is understood nothing could be done,
and it is said there is little IL any
probability of the federal government
making any immediate effort to put
the law into effect.
One prominent member of the cabl-
net, who is regarded as q man Of
great force and strength Of character,
made the broad assertion after the
session was over that the law was
nothing short of a political scheme
and enacted for political effect. He said
in fact, something about demegoguery,
and intimated there had been gen.
eral hope among the associates that
the court would hold it to be uncon-
stitutional. 1t is assumed that the or
dinary course Of the supreme court
that as soon as the majority of the
members of the court are determined
upon it's exact phraseology it will be
transmitted to the Chinese minister to
be by him forwarded to his govern
ment. This will necessarily involve con-
siderable delay, and congress will prob
ably be again in session before re-
ply can be made to the communication.
1t is evident that the administration
was surprised by the decision, and the
situation is very perplexing. With the
constitutionality Of the law settled, 1t
is very embarrassing not to be able to
force it, in the absence Of money for
the expense of deportation. II the Chi
nese would simply accept the situation
and comply with the law it would
simplify matters, but the impression
is that most of them will not do this
but will resist as long as possible. AS
to the expense of enforcing the law
it is not by any means sure, that II
be appropriated. The effect of the Chi
nese decision is far reaching and in
wolves, according to the views of many
diplomats and naval officers, sever
duC6 VI Jul ulpiOllldllC anu COlllhuSIClui
relations with the Chinese empire.
They are firm in the belief that the
Ceiestials will retaliate against the
United States. That this extreme view
of the situation is not regarded alto |
gether as an improbability, is evil |
denced by the fact thatnaval officials
are considering the question with the
reorganization of the American squad |
ron in Chinese waters. On the other |
hand, at the state department rumors
and surmises of Chinese retaliation are /
not given credence to. Not even the
bearing on the report that /
the Chinese government intends to de-
port American missionaries and all
other citizens Of this country, has come
to the ears Of the department officials.
The impression is quite general that
the administration will have to allow
the present order to collectors, not to
make arrests, to stand. The final solu-
lion Of the problem would seem to
levolve on congress, and until that
body assemblies 1t does not appear that
he law will be enforced.
Secretary Carlisle received many tele-
grams today asking for a suspension
If the operation of the law for at
east six months. The best opinion OBJ
ainable on the subject in the treas
Try department is that the law is ex-
,licit on one point, having set the 5th
# May as the last day upon which
egistration could be made. and conse-
luently it is beyond the power Of
wen the president to extend this limit.
Among the kilograms received by Sec
etary Carlisle was one from the at
orneys Six Companies who also ask
or a suspension Of the law.