Speech #510038242

Then the only effect of the bill will be simply to register those who have a right to be here and who are now here. It exclude3 no Chinaman who has a right to come in under the present law. but. on the contrary. it affords protection to those who are here by showing that they have been registered and hereafter their right to have been here on the 1st day of June can not be questioned. If they have a certificate it is an absolute protection to them from being deported from the country on the ground that they have come here since that time. * As I said. and I repeat. every member from the Pacific Slope objected to these amendments and fought them from the very beginning. and as I understand today they are opposing them in the other House and will insist upon the bill as it passed that body. The amendments that were adopted by the Senate committee were in the interest and for the protection of the Chinese. The bill as amended by the Senate committee does not exclude any Chinaman who now has a right to come. but it will have the effect to keep out laborers who. under the present law. have no right to be here.