The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-28

The Geary law says that the Chinese
must be deported. But how is it to he
doneP Is the plan contemplated really
practicable? Some declare that it is, and
Others declare that it is not.
Few, if any. Callfornians say that the law
should not be carried out, but when it comes
to the question Of how 10 do it-how to ar
rest all the Chinese who come under the
law and send them TO the Asian side of the
Paciic-t is not such an easy thing to de-
termine.
The views Of various well-known citizens
on this subject were obtained yesterday. 1t
must be confessed that they do not throw
any wonderful light on the question. but
they are interesting at this particular time.
W. Il. DIMOND-It is business propo-
sition, and we must cut the garment accord
ing to the cloth. The Government should
charter steamers and deport the unregis-
tered Chinese as long al the appropriation
for the enforcement of the law holds out.
There are not enough vessels for immediate
deportation. but those who violate the law
could be securely imprisoned until they
were shipped away. Pm afraid, however
that the appropriation made by Congress is
iuSuulCicut " cdIIy Out tue HCk. Inc Only
thing for the Government 70 DO is TO sup
port the law as far as possible. II neces-
sary, martial law could be declared and the
services OF the regular soldiers brought into
TeQuisition, and the National Guard could
be called out, too. OF course, 1t would take
q long time to deport all the unregis tered
Chinese In this State alone. Not m ore than
three or four steamers could be chartered at
a time and none OF these could carry more
than 1900 Chinese. Understand me, my
opinion is that the Geary law should be en-
forced rigidly as far as it is possible.
CHARLES SONNTAG-It would be a
most difficult matter to depOrt the Chinese.
In fact, l don't think 1t can be done. be-
heVe that inlunetions can be procured in
the United States courts that would stop
deportation. The constitutionslity of the
law will be thoroughly tested before q sin
gle MongOl Is shipped back to the Flowery
Kingdom. Mind you, believe that the law
ought to be rlgidly enforced, but l think it
cannot be done at present. IL is impracti-
cable and can't be done. The law is not
unreasonable and ought to be complied
with, but all the same, l believe that be-
fore deportation the Chinese have the right
10 test the law through writs of habeas
corpus. If 1t does come to a question of
Immediate deportation there are many old
Government vessels at Mare Island that
could be used for the purpose.
w. L. MERRY-The Chinese cannot and
will not all be transported. All that is nee
essary IS for the authorities to depOrt one
shipOad of unregistered Mongols and the
remainder will be only too anxious to secure
certificates. If the department would then
grant an extension of thirty days time the
question of registration would soon be set
tied. l haven't paid much attention to the
question, butin an off-hand way will state
that II would be Impossible to depOrt all the
Chinese who refuse to register. Vessels
enough for the purpose could not be . TO-
cured on the coast.
EB. POND-Really, Eve been go deeply
Immersed in business affairs that I'm not
prepared to give an opinion in reference to
the feasibility Of deDOrting Chinese who
refuse 10 register. Yes, agree with Cap
tain Merry in his view that it will only be
necessary to deport one snipload.
j. B. STETSON-The learned Judge
who, some years ago, put himself on record
In New York by deciding against a con-
stable who in the execution of his duties
let his own private judgment prevail over
the law. illustrated my opinion on the
Geary act and the methods to be applied in
enforcing its execution. l believe that
every law of the land shall be strictly
adhered to aud the registration OF the Chi
nese Is certainly compulsory under the
provisions Of the Geary act. Whether the
Chinese will obey or not is. in my opinion.
immaterisl, because the Government officers
are Instructed TO deal with all those who
refuse 10 live up TO the laws of our country.
do not believe that the law compelling
registration is an unjust one, because il
prevents the many subterfuges exercised
heretofore by the willy Chinese In landing
their countrymen contrary to the laws Of
the land
Nj. X. ROBERTS-It was during an inter-
view had with Collector Quinn some time
ago that suggested to him the Gordon plan
The CALL illustrated yesterday. NV sug-
ges;io1 was prompted by the fact that had
EeHaDle information which Informed me
that the Chinese would vigorously resist
any attempt on the part of the Government
TO carry out the provisions of the Geary act
as II reads. l had been told by Chinese
who was we'll Informed that there would be
riot and boodshed il there was any i'm
prisonment at hard labor or any deporta-
ton. That is why l recommended the cor
don plan to Mr.. Quinn, who was delig hted
with 1t and as l see now has submitted 1t to
the authorities at Washington.
JOHN D. SPRECKELS-I have bean
enormously reported as being in communi-
cation with the United States Government
with reference to the transportation of such
Chinese as 1t may become necessary to de-
port BACK to their own country. All there
is in this story is that few weeks ago a
local Government official asked me whether
had large steamer which in an emer-
gency could be used for such purpose. l
told him that l had a vessel which could
carry 1000 Chinese at q time, and that if the
Government wanted to charter l was per-
fectly willing to put the steamer at its dis
posal. As man in the transportation
business, it makes no difference to me
whether my steamers carry Chinese or
pumpkins, as lohg as / get paid for the
freightage of the cargo. That is the only
consideration have ever given to the Geary
act
EX- SENATOR A. P. WILLIAMS -
The laws will be and must be enforced.
In makes no difference in what manner the
details are executed, OF what possible emer-
geDcles may arise later on, the officers have
only one duty outlined, and that is to carry
out the provisions of tie Geary act as they
read. Ii future developments should prove
that this law is unconstitutional IL may put
the United States TO lots of trouble and ex-
pense. but that Is bridge which we have
only to cross when we come to it. For the
present there is only one thing to do. and
that Is--carry out the law.
THERE MAY BE TROUBLE.