Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-16
CHINESE EXCLUSION.
What May Be the Effect of the Su.
preme Court Decision.
AT THE CABINET MEETING
The Question Believed to Have Been Con-
sidered--Chief Justice Fuller at the White
House and State Departmental Extreme
View Delay in Carrying Out the Law
Asked.

The Chinese question occupied the entire
attention of the cabinet at its meeting today.
Before the cabinet meeting Chief Justice Fuller,
who dissented from the decision of the Supreme
Court, called at the White House and had a
brief .alk with the President.
1t is evident that the administration was sur
prised by the decision and that the situa ton is
very perplexing. With the constitutionality of
the law settled it is embarrassing not to be
able to enforce it, but in the absence
OF the money for the expenses of deporting
the Chinese there seems to be nothing that
can be done.
II the Chinese would simply accept the
situation and comply with the law it
would simplify matters, but the impression
is that most Of them will not do this, but will
resist as long as possible. As to the expense Of
that ii Congress were in session the money
would be appropriated.
POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF THE DECISION.
The effects Of the Chinese decision are far
reaching and involve, according to the view'of
many diplomats and naval officers, the COM
plete severance of our diplomatic and
commercial relations with the Chinese
empire. They are firm in the belief that the
celestials will retaliate in kind against the
United States in the event that unregistered
Chinese are driven Unfortunately out of this
country.
ALL RELATIONS TO BE SEVERED.
According to this program the Chinese minis
ter at Washington Will present his letters Of
recall to the President and close up the legation
in this city. Then the American minister
at Peking will be politely requested
to withdraw from China and will be furnished
In
will also be supplied with safe con-
duct to the borders of the Chinese
kingdom. The Chinese consular officers will
also be withdrawn from duty at our ports and
our consular officers at Chinese ports will be
invited to go home.
ALL AMERICANS TO BE SENT OUT OF CHINA.
The next step will be to send American citi-
zers of all classes. merchants, missionaries. &C.,
out OF the celestial country, accompanied by an
imperial decree closing all Chinese ports to all
citizens Of the United States, including even
tourists.
AN EXTREME VIEW.
In this way intercourse between. the two
countries will be closed and the friendly rela-
tions that have so long subsisted between them
will have an abrupt termination. This Is an
extreme view of the situation, but
that it is not regarded altogether as
al AmpTODdOlutV I5 GNlOenCeu DIV the
fact that naval officials are considering the
question in connection with the reorganization
Of the American squadron in Chinese waters
Ike original plan was to substitute the
steel cruiser Baltimore FOR the wooden ship
Lancaster as the flagship Of the station. 1t is
now thought that it may be necessary to enlarge
the fleet and to substitute two or more modern
ships FOR those now in Chinese waters.
The consideration Of this question is delay
ing the settlement Of the question Of the as
signment to stations of the vessels now COM
posing the naval review fleet.
Chief Justice Fuller had an interview with
Secretary Gresham at the State Department
this morning. presumably in regard to the
Chinese question.
SECRETARY GRESHAM WILL NOT TALK,
Secretary Gresham was seen this morning.
but he declined to discuss the matter. stating
that there was nothing new. from @ diplomatic
standpoint. and therefore nothing to talk about.
No action concerning the Chinese exclusion
law from diplomatic standpoint has vet been
taken by the State Department
Mr.. W. w. Rockhill. chief clerk OF the State
Department, who has correspondents in the
Chinese diplomatic service and also a number
OF American friends in that country. says he
has not heard a word concerning retaliation.
and, furthermore that there Is hardly a like,i-
hood that such action will be considered. much
less saker.
TREASURY OFFICIALS EMBARRASSED.
The administration. the officials of the
Treasury Department and all others who
are in any way connected with the Gu
forcement of the Geary Chinese law
are in a quandary. The situation is
a perplexing one and solution OF it cannot be
made ofhand or without serious consideration.
Congress has passed law, the Supreme
Court has sustained the constitutionality,
but those upon whom the duty OF its inforce-
ment devolves find themselves bound hand
and foot. In order that the law may
be executed it is first neces-
sarv that the salaries Of the officers
and incidental expenses must be provided for.
There is no fund from which money for this
purpose can be obtained except that appro-
priaSed by Congress. or this sum Sl6, 900 re-
How the administration can deport 100000
Chinese with Sl6, 900 is the question that is
aSita ing the administration.
Every one seems TO appreciate the situation
and none of the officials of the administration
with whom STAR reporter talked could offer
any plan which would relieve the govern
ment from the duty to enforce law on
the one hand and accepting the responsibility
of the serious diplomatic complications that are
almost certain 10 ensue should the law be
carried out to the letter. Today the
whole matter appears to resolve itself into the
quebtiOt, wen. WEat IL 10 De uOne ABOUT IL.
and the invariabie reply is Don't know"
REQUESTS THAT THE LAW BE NOT ENFORCED.
The impression is quite general that the ad-
minissration will have to allow the present or
ders to collectors not to make arrests to stand
The final solution of the problem would seem
to devolve on Congress and until that body ss-
sembles 1t does not appear that the law
can be enforced. Either the national legis-
lature must provide an appropriation
for the enforcement of the law or repeal it.
The public sentiment tends toward the latter
proposition, and even this morning Secretary
Carlisle received many telegraphic communica-
tions asking that the law be not enforced
ONE METHOD SUGGESTED
There is one method suggested which might
prove satisfactory if this course is legally allow
able. The law states that on recourse to the
courts the judge may decide where it is
proven that sickness. accident. or some un-
avoidable reason prevented Chinese
from registering certificate can be
issued. broad Interpretation of this
provision by the local courts might
allow many of the Chinese to register still and
should they accede to this proposition much OF
the difficulty would be removed This question