The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-09-14
The Scholar in Politics Couldn't
Have Known Less of His Bill.
THE ADMINISTRATIONS AMUSING
ATTEMPT AT LEGISLATION.
The Everett Bill to Amend the Geary Law
Found to Kill Its Own Purpose in the
First Sectional Subcommittee Will
Patch Up the Measure-Mr Voorhees,
Wakes Up and Asks for a vote-Then
He Goes to Sleep Again.
Especial to the Press.l

Washington, Septem ber 13-There was
very comical incident at the meeting of
the House committee on foreign affairs
today, called for consideration of the
bill introduced by DR.. Everett of Massa-
chusetts, extending the time for one year
in which Cinnamon now resident in the
United States should be permitted to
register While the bill bears DR.. Everett's
name, it was really prepared in the State
Department, and it was handed to DIR.
Everett to be introduced by him in the
House by Assistant Secretary of State
Quincy with the knowledge that the bill
met with the approval of the President
and was to be considered as an admins
tration measure In view of the strained
relations between this country and
China, owing to the passage OF the
Geary law, and the determined effort
made by the people of the Pacific coast
to have the provisions of that law COM
piled with and deport all unregistered
Cinnamon now found in this country, it
was hoped by the administration that the
committee on foreign affairs would today
make favorable report on the bill. So
urgent did the President regard the mat
ter that, at his solicitation, conference
was held at the residence of Secretary
Carlisle last night attended bygAssistant
Secretary of the Treasury Hamlin and
Representative Geary of California and
at this conference the Secretary of State
and Secretary of the Treasury explained
to Mr.. Geary that twas a matter of most
vital Importance that the bill should be
speedily passed by the House. Mr.. Geary
agreed not to oppose the measure if GER
tain amendments were made to the bill
and to this the two secretaries assented.
When the committee met this morning,
Chairman McCreary moved that the
charm an be authorized by the commit
tee to report the bill with a favorable
recommendation to the House. Mr..
Geary asked what was intended to be ac-
complished by the bill. The chairman
told him it would extend the time for
one year i'll which unregistered China
men would be permitted to register.
innocently asked Mr.. Geary in his bland
est manner, (which gives this privilege?n
Mr.. .McCreary said that the entire bill
was to that effect
II should like to have the bill read"
mildly suggested Mr.. Geary.
The bill was then read by the clerk. It
starts out by saying that all Cinnamon
at present legally in the United States.
etc. At this point, Mr.. Geary interrupted
the reading and said the bill permitted
all Cinnamon now legally in the United
States to have the benefit. of a years
further time in which to register. He
went on to say that all the Cinnamon
with the exception of a very few who
had registered were illegally here and
therefore the bill had no effect what
ever. This was such poser to the COM
mittee that every member was struck all
of heap Mr.. McCreary hemmed and
hawed and looked very much nonplussed
and then turning to DR.. Everett, asked
for an explanation. The Massachusetts
scholar in politics turned about fifteen
different shades, pulled himself together
and looked at the printed bill which was
before him, and then. was forced to
make the humiliating confession that he
knew nothing of the bill bearing his
name, that it had been prepared in the
State Department and handed him by
Mr.. Quincy with the request that he in
troduce it into the House as representing
the views of the administration. This
confession broke up the meeting 1t was
evident to everyone that the bill in it's
present form was but a mass of words
strung together and without any value
whatever. Mr.. Geary suggested that the
bill be referred to sub committee SO that
it could be properly framed, and this was
DONE This last attempt of the admins
tration to direct legislation seems to
have signally failed.