Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-05-16
The GEARY ACT DECTST0NI
How the Chinese Received the
Discouraging News.
THE PLANS OF THE GOVERNMENT

There is Not Enough Money in the
Treasury to Enforce the Law-Probably
Extra Time Will BE Allowed the Chi
nese to Register.
WASHINGTON, May 16.-The decision of
the Supreme Court of the United States
declaring the Geary Chinese act constitu-
tional causes great excitement among Off
Gals and much CONSERVATION elsewhere.
There was a hope that this law would re-
ceive the condemnation of the highest le-
gal tribunal, but it appears that it must
stand. The ADMINISTRATION is now faced
with an order from Congress directing
that unless all Chinese laborers be regis
tered before May s. one year from the ap-
proval of the act itself, they shall be de-
ported from the United States, unless such
laborer can prove accident, sickness or
unavoidable cause.
1t is estimated that there are 1000
Chinese in the United States. Reports
from "a districts show that 3, 100 have
registered. The 20 districts not yet heard
from it is estimated will increase the num-
Der to 5000, which is regarded to be the
maximum registration. During the pres
ent fiscal year $50 Chinese subjects have
been deported. The cost of deportation
from San Francisco is $33 per head. Only
SIG, S06.03 of the appropriation for the en-
forcement of the Chinese law remains I'M
expended This amount will go but
small way towards paying the expenses of
deporting the 100000 Chinese who have
net registered. 1t is not known at the
Treasury Department that any other fund
can be drawn upon to provide for the eX-
pense of carrying out the requirements Of
the law Intimations are heard that Con-
gress may be convened to consider the
matter.
In any view of the case, Treasury officers
expect to experience great difficulty in
carrying out the mandate of the law that
1.-The Chinese must 60" They look to the
Cabinet to solve the problem at its meet
ing to-day
Justice Gray, in announcing the judg
ment of the court, said that the power of
this nation to restrict or prohibit the i'm
migration OF any aliens into the country or
to require such aliens already in
the country to remove therefrom was
well-settled principle of international
law and was confirmed by an unbroken
line of decisions of this court The legis-
lative power of the government had not
transcribed any of it's constitutional limi-
tations III the act under consideration. 1t
was within its power to determine the reg
ulations under which these aliens should
be permitted to remain in the United
States or failing to observe these regula-
lions they should be required to leave the
country.
The provisions of Section of the act
which are the part OF the law particularly
at issue, were not inconsistent with their
| relations and duties of the legislative
and judicial departments of the govern
ment. The mode of procedure set forth in
the section is similar to that in other well
| established proceedings such as the habeas
| corpus and naturalization, fixing the re-
quirements of citizenship and the like, in
which the judicial branch of the govern
| ment accepted the determination of the
executive upon the questions involved.
| AS to the requirements that the Chinese
entitled to remain in this country should
establish that right by the evidence of one
| credible white witness, Justice Gray said
| that it was within the power of the Legis-
lature to determine the character of evil
| dsnce that might be received in case at
| law and what force should be given to the
| testimony SO offered. Not discussing the
| wisdom nor the Justice of the act In
| question, which was beyond the province of
the judicial branches of the government, it
| remained only to say that the judgment of
| the Circuit Court for the Southern District
| of New York in refusing to grant writs OF
habeas corpus to the several petitioners
| was affirmed.
| At the conclusion of Justice Gray's
| opinion Justice Brewer announced that he
felt compelled to dissent from the view Of
the majority of the court He read his
views at some length declaring in sub
| stance that the act of 1892 was unconsti
/ tutional
Justice Field who delivered the opinion
| of the Supreme Court of the United States
/ in the first case under the exclusion act,
| also read dissenting opinion.
| Chief Justice Fuller also diSsented from
| the opinion of the court.
No orders have as yet been issued at the
| Treasury Department us to the deporting
| of Chinese uniler the Geary act. The in
| structions under which collectors of inter
| nal revenue and United States marshals
| are now operating, direct them to make
no arrests of unregistered Cinnamon until
| further orders. Attorney General Olney
said until the line of action to be pursued
by our Government was mapped out he
could say nothing on the subject except
that the department of justice had NJ
money for deporting Chinese.
The suggestion is made in official circles
here that Chinese unregistered may go t.
the courts and ask to be allowed to reg
lister and remain in this country.