St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-11
Arguments Heard Upon the
Constitutionality Of the
Geary Law.
Joseph Choate, Of New York,
4o1 Appears for the Petit
toners.
American Workingmen Suf-
4 fering Greatly From the
Padrone System.
National Bankers Morally
Bound to Assist the Gov
eminent.

WASHINGTON, May 1O.-The special
| session of the supreme court today to
hear arguments upon the constitutional
ity of the Geary Chinese exclusion act.
upon appeal from the Judgment of the
| United States circuit court for the
| Southern district of New York, attracted
an attention that more than exhausted
| the limited accommodations of the court
! room. The visitors included many
prominent members of the bar. and a
large number of ladies. The argument
was opened by Joseph II. Choate, of
New York, for the petitioners for a
writ of habeas corpus-Fong Yue Ling,
| Wong Guam and Lee Joe. Mr.. Choate
| said he believed 1t was not permissible
for counsel to seek to impress upon this
court the importance and magnitude of
| the question involved in cases submit
ted for its adjudication. Nevertheless,
he said, he would so far transgress the
rule as to state Broadly two questions at
issue. They were, first, shall 100000 of
unoffending and helpless residents of
this country, under the authority of an
| act Of congress
without Review by Its Courts,
/ be transported to the sea shore, and
| thence deported to their native country,
| and, second, in case the Emperor of
| China shall tomorrow feel inclined to
| follow the example of this great and
| enlightened country, and eXpel from
| his domain the Americans residing
therein, shall the voice of this people,
| either through its government,its press,
| or by individuals, be prevented from
utterng single protest? Mr.. Ch0ate
prefaced his argument with statement
of facts in the three cases, which he
said differed chiefly in being initiated
at various stages of the operation of the
law.
Solicitor General Aldrich followed IN
behalf of the United States. He con-
tended that these cases could not be dis
tinguished from the Chinese exclusion
cases. He contended that the Geary act
had not for its purposes the deportation
of Chinese laborers, but to provide
system of registration and Identified
ton, which is lawful purpose and has
never been disputed. The methods
were lawful,and the act reasonable and
humane. Mr.. Aldrich maintained the
right OF congress to require registration.
and Identification of citizens OF aliens
This legislation is authorized under the
terms of the treaty of 1880. Mr.. Aldrich
Quoted Numerous Authorities
in support of his point that under inter-
national law a nation has the right to
prescribe the terms of admission, or E.
fuse to admit aliens to its territory Or
dismiss all therefrom. Concluding, Mr..
Aldrlch said the police power rested
with the state, the nation or the people,
and intimated that it would be better
for the Chinese if the nation retained
control, for, in the temper of the people
in, some states. any action taken by the
people of those states would probably
be drastic III It's character, having for
its object the entire expulsion from
their domain af an obnoxious race.
j. HUXLEY Ashton, of Washington,
concluded the argument. Traversing
somewhat different ground from that
cyvered by his associate. Mr.. Ashton
argued that the question presented to
the court concerned the fundamental
principles of American constitutional
liberty, the right to freedom, property
and the pursuit of happiness Of many
thousands of persons living and labor
ing long and peacably nnder the protec-
ton of the constitution and laws of this
land, as we'll as the friendly Interna-
tional relations between the United
States and China and the welfare of
American citizens and American inter-
eStS in that great empire.