The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-14
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
The Geary Exclusion Act Discussed
by Several Members.

WASHINGTON, Oct BIN the House
this morning Representative Bankhead,
chairman CT the committee on public build
fngs and grounds, reported a resolution au-
thorizinS the lease of building convent
emily located for the purpose OF a document
and filing room. Afr. Richardson, chairman
or the committee on printing said that If
some relief was not granted for the storage
OF public documents, the government printer
would be compelled to dismiss portion of
his force The resolution was passed.
bill vas pasted for the relief of W. w
I;awlins, late collector of the Fifth North
Carolina district. 1t credits lis account
with SLIGO. the value of stamps destroyed
In fire at Winston Nov. 13, 1892.
bill was passed increasing from SIS to
Sloo the pay of a number of army officers
who may be detailed for instruction at ed
cational Institutions.
Mr.. Campbell endeavorcd to have a bill
authorizing the Secretary of War to COM
mute the pay and allowances due Fitz John
Porter referred to the committee on mill
tary affairs, but objection was made, and
1t went the usual way
The House then proceeded to further con-
sideration Of the McCreary bill to amend
ard modify the Geary Chinese registration
and exclusion act Mr.. Rayner being the
first speaker. Before going into the dis
ctssion the House decided by unanimous
consent to extend the time therefor until
O'Clock Monday afternoon, at which hour
the vote shall be taken on the bill and
pending amendments. Mr.. Rayner said the
passage Of the bill was an act of self-evi-
dent 1ustice--one that should commend it
SELF 10 every member Of the House. The
Geary law, he said, does not come within
or under any of the treaties made by the
United States with China. but is in viola
ton OF the provisions of all of them
another proposition which Mr.. Rayner adj
vonced was that every single Chinese per-
son, with respect to whom the Geary law
proposed to legislate, was legally domi-
ciled within the United States in accord
ance with the terms Of the laws and treat
| les by which they were invited TO come to
tflS country. IF we are going to exercise
natural justice in this country" he said,
| IF we are going to maintain human rights
we must pass this bill" Mr. Rayner's en-
| erSetic and emphatic manner attracted
more attention to him than any previous
| speaker on the question had secured, with
| the result that he was almost constantly
| interrupted by questions.
Mr.: Ray asked him IL the adrninistra-
| ton had done anything to enforce the law
Mr.. Rayner-No: and rightfully So
Mr.. Ray-How rightfully?
Mr.. Rayner-Because from the fact that
posal for the enforcement of the law. At
! the earlier stage of the matter the law was
before the Supreme Court of the United
| States for consideration, and after it had
been pronounced constitutional there was
a likelihood that it would be amended by
Congress. In further discussion of this
point Mr. Rayner said: II am very par
ticular in critcising the judgment of any
court, but must say, taking Justice Gray's
/ court. in the light Of the dissenting opin-
ions. of Chief Justice Fuller and Justices
Field and Brewer, it is the most incompre-
hensible judgment ever rendered in this
In the course Of the questioning to which
he was. subjected Mr.. Rayner confessed
that he had signed the report in favor of
| the Geary law and voted to pass it. He
explained that he had been led to do this
sity for the law and it's provisions-a con-
fidence that had been badly shaken-and by
the expression to him at that time that it
was constitutional.
An interruption coming from Demo-
cratic Representative criticising the Pres
ident for his failure to enforce the law. law
Mr. Rayner paSsionately rejoined: THE
President has done his duty in accordance
with the dictates Of his own conscience
every wind of public opinion. He does not
believe in bartering away any of the prin-
ciples upon which he was swept into office
by an Overwhelming verdict. But If these
attacks upon him do not cease greatly fear
there won't be enough left to fight the
enemy when the time comes"
Mr. Sickles followed Mr.. Rayner in a brief
speech in support of the bill He had read
| the following proposed amendment:
Provided, That nothing contained in
this act or in any act shall be held or con-
strued. in contravention of any treaty now
existing between the United States and the
| Emperor of China
| Mr. Bowers warned the Democrats and
Republicans that if this McCreary bill was
passed there would not be enough of either
party left in California to make grease
spot that could be seen with the naked
eye.
Asked by Mr.. Wilson, of Washington, to
explain what would become of Them he said
| the Populists would receive astonishing in
creases in the State.
Mr. Mcclure opposed the bill: He defended
the Geary law as reasonable and con-
| venient requirement, wholly within the
| bounds of the Constitution.