Speech #510044250

I wish to say. in all deference to the Department officials. as no doubt they have acted in good faith. that their action. in my judgment. is not warranted by the law. I want to call this fact to the attention of the Senator. that when these acts were up. the act of 1882 and the act of 1884 and whenever any bill has been before either House of Congress looking to the exclusion of Chinese. almost invariably an amendment has been offered to permit Chinese to come here for the purpose of transit. and just as often as that amendment has been offered it has been voted down. invariably. always voted down. in both Houses of Congress. There is not a line or a scintilla in any of the existing legislation on the subject of Chinese exclusion that squints even toward the right of Chinese laborers to come into this country for the purpose of transit merely.