The morning call., 1893-10-14
IN A HOT BOX.
Rayner Talks for the
Chinese.
HAS SOME VIEWS ON LAW.
Which Lead Him into PitfaIl Dug
by Mr.. Cannon of IIli-
nOiS.
HAS SOME VIEWS ON LAW.

| bill came up in the House at 12:45 O'clock
to-day. After some little c0lloquy over
| the time yet remaining for debate, in
| which Messrs. MeCreary, Outbwaite,
Bowers. Geary, Loud and Wilson Of
Washington had something to say. Outh-
| waite asked unanimous consent that the
previous question on the bill aud the
am endments be considered as ordered at
| 8 o'clock Monday. and this was agreed to-.
This arrangement seems to be entirely
satisfactory to the Pacific Coast Repre-
sentatives. as it will allow all to be heard
| who so desire.
Mr.. Loud offered the following amend
| ment: provided, that upon complaint
under oath by any citizen of the United
States made before United States Judge.
stating that any Chinese person is in the
United States unlawfully, a warrant for
the arrest Of said Chinese person shall be
issued by said Judge, and said person
shall be subjected to all of the provisions
of this act and the act to which this is an
amendment, the same as If be had been
arrested hereunder by customs official.
a collector OF internal revenue or his depu-
ties, United States Marshal or his depu-
ties"
Rayner of Maryland took the floor in
favor OF the bill but was opposed to the
amendments. Rayner is an eloquent
speaker; his well-turned sentences and his
flights of oratory were enthusiastically ap-
plauded On both sides of the House cham
Der, but his utterapces we're strangely in
consistent He declared that it was an
outrage to arrest the Chinese without due
process of law, imprison them, deny them
bail and inf1ict unusual and cruel punish
ment. Notwithstanding the opinion of five
members of the United States Supreme
Court. he said. he would venture his own
opinion that the registration law was
clearly unconstitutional.
Cannon Of Illinois demanded to know
then why the gentleman from Maryland,
as member of the Foreign Affairs Com
mitiee, had voted to report this bill to the
House in May.
This embarrassed Rayner. aud his fel-
low-members and the spectators. who had
just been enthusiastically applauding his
eloquence. were now enjoying his dscom-
future. He answered that he voted for it
because he had great confidence in the
ability of the author of the bill.
Mr.. Cannon asked: You then preferred
that gentleman's legal opinion to your
| own?"
NO" said Rayner. II had at that time
never carefully examined the provisions
of the BILL"
This reply was regarded as pretty thin
by Rayner's fellow-members. but he was
allowed to proceed without further inter-
ruption until he made the assertion that
President Cleveland was. considering all
the circumstances. justified, in his desire
to 90 right. 10 SUSPEND the enforcement of
the law until Congress could take further
action.
Hartman of Montana asked why, II the
President could ignore the enforcement Of
one law he could not disregard all laws by
refusing to execute them?
Rayner was "stumped" again. His re-
ply was equivoca. He alluded to the ap-
peals pending before the Supreme Court.
the Democrats for attacking the admins
tration. IF we keep on fighting among
ourselves" he said, "there will not be
enough of US left with which to confront
our enemy next time" [Applause and
laughter on the Republican side.]
Rayner referred to anarchy in the
United States Senate" and was called TO
order by membe with whom he had a
sharp tilt. in which personalities were ex-
changed. Rayner said he would with
draw his remark. but asserted the same
right to criticize the Senate that Gsary had
to attack Cleveland aud his Cabinet.
| Wilson of Washington interrupted and
said: Cabinet officers who sent teiegrams
! instructing their inferior officers not to en-
| force the laws Of Congress ought to be
criticized"
Geary resented Rayner's imputation that
| he had attacked missionaries.
General Daniel E. SickIes, the famous
soldier. duelist and orator, took the floor
to favor the McCreary bill. bis command
ing figure and bearing attracted great at
| tention. He stood in tho aisle with his
| crutches under both arms. his stump
| leg resting on his desk. Sickles has thin
| piping voice, however, and his speech was
disappointing and failed to Justify his
| reputation as an orator.
| Bowers of California made character
| istic speech In his own breezy and original
style. He entertained the Honse for a
half hour. He said he considered the
welfare and prosperity of American men,
women and children as paramount to any
treaty siipulations. He had Judge Ross
letter to Oiney read by the clerk. Bowers
declared that our mission aries had not any
business 10 China. They were needed at
home. He cited instances where other
people than Chinese had been pro-
scribed by Americans. and for professed
| religious reasons, though he had no SYM
pathy for such forms of professed Chris
tianity. Bowers said tho Chinese had
their own religion. which they were very
well satisfied with why should they wish
to exchange it for our own? He contended
that because three able lawyers had given
a certain legal opinion to the Chinese was
not sufficient reason for the passage of any
act or change of any law by Congress. He
created a great deal of amusement when
he read from the voters list of San Diego
County his own personal description.
which was taken as condition precedent
| to his right to vote.
II WAS stood up by clerk. examined
and measured like box or bale of goods,
yet was only common Congressman.
Ii had been Chinaman / suppose this
treatment would have been considered
|