Democratic messenger., 1893-07-01
WHAT THE GEARY LAW 10.
Legislation Regarding Chinese In Thi
Couptry Clearly EXPLAINED.

Legislation Regarding Chinesc In Ihts
Country Clearly Explained.
The supreme court Of the United States
has affirmed the constitutionality of the
Chinese exclusion act Of May :. 1899, which
requires the removal from the United States
OF all Chinese persons who are not lawfully
entitled to remain here. Practically this
act-whch Is commonly called the Geary
law, from the name of the member OF con-
vrcss who introduced the bill for which II
was substituted not 20 into effect I'M
ill May 3, 1893. because it gave the hincse
until that date to procure the certificates
which should show that they were lawfully
In the country.
By its terms the new law excludes no
class of Chinese not already forbidden to
enter the country. nor does IL require the
expulsion Of any who were in the country
when the r,vious laws prohibiting the i'm
migration Of Chinese laborers went into
force
In effect. however, taking into considera-
tion the failure Of many thousands OF
Chinese laborers to comply with the terms
Of the law. its strict enforcement would
expel the majority of the Chinese in the
United States.
The law continues In force the existing
legislation relating to the Chinese and
provides that all Chinese who cannot prove
that they are lawfully in the country shall
be removed to China, or. il they have be-
come citizens Of some other country. to
that country.
All Chinese laborers who were lawfully
In the country Mt the time Of the passage OF
the act are required by II to obtain. within
one year. from the collector OF internal
revenue in whose district they lived n Ger
tificate Of their residence giving each man s
name, age, place of abode and occupation.
Any Chinese laborer. whether entitled 10
live in the country or not. who shall not
have obtained this certificate before May
5, 1899, is subject not only to deportation.
but to fine and imprisonment.
As the previous legislation had prohibit
cd the immigration Of Chinese laborers
only. and as by the treaty between the
United States and China NIL Chinese who
are teachers. students. merchants or trav-
clcrs from curiosity, together with their
servants, and all Chinese laborers who were
already in the country when the treaty was
adopted were guaranteed the same rights
as other foreigners, the law directly applies
only Ia laborcrs who have obtained admis
sion to the country since the previous ex
clusion acts were passed or TO those who
| have failed tn take out certificates.
| Acting under advice that the present oi
"Geary act" was contrary 10 our national
| constitution and in violation Of the treat y
with China. the great majority of the Chi
nese labcrers failed To take out certificates
Of residence. Several of them were arrest
ed, and when their liberation was demand
ed on writs Of habeas corpus their case:
were taken first before the United State.
district courts and then to the United
States supreme court on this constitutional
question.
a majority Of the supreme court decided
against these Chinese appellants. declaring
that the law is in accordance with the con
stitution and that congress did not exceed
its power in cnaciing il. The majority o.
Chinese laborers in the country. therefore
are now subject To arrest and banshmcnI
to China
\ great deal Of opposition to the terms o
the law has been expressed on account o
its supposed violation of the treaty Of th'
United States with China. 1t is assumed
that il the law is enforc d il will be fol
lowed by retaiatory measures and tha
Americans Will he expelled from China.
IL is possible that this will be the case
but it is proper to say that the conditions
under which Chinese may live in the Unitet
States under the ''Geary act are far NOR,
liberal than those under which Americans
live, travel. do business or express them
selves in China or have ever done So
Youths Companion.