Speech #530022919

I have on my table the response made by the Secretary of the Treasury to a resolution offered in this House by the gentleman from California . It shows that he has but $25.000 in the Treasury of the United States available to enforce the provisions of the act of May 5. 1892. What can be done with $25.000 towards deporting 85.000 Chinese. the cost of which. according to a carefully prepared statement. will be $7.000.000? If the Administration is expected to deport Chinese laborers under the Geary act an appropriation should be made that is sufficient to pay the expense. I call the attention of Representatives to an extract from the response recently made by the AttorneyGeneral to a resolution of inquiry adopted by the House of Representatives: In response to letters of inquiry. from various district attorneys and marshals. made since May 4. 1893. this Department has from time to time stated that the instructions given by the general letter of May 4 were to be construed as applicable solely to the sixth section of the act of May 5. 1892. and that in concurrence with the directions given by the Secretary of the Treasury in his circular of May 24. 1893. all the provisions of law relating to the ar rest and prosecution of Chinese laborers who were unable to show that they had been lawfully admitted into the United States were to be vigorously enforced. The Secretary of the Treasury. on May 24.1893. in his circular letter to the collectors of revenue. before whom Chinese laborers were required to go in order to obtain certificates of residence. said: Inviting your attention to the first. second. third. fourth. and fifth sections of the act approved May 5. 1892. entitled "An act to prohibit the coming of Chinese persons into the United States." which continued in force the provisions of the previous acts prohibiting the coming into this country of Chinese laborers. and provide for the trial. imprisonment. and deportation of such persons who under said laws are found to be not lawfully entitled to remain in the United States. you are directed to use all the means under your control to vigorously enforce said provisions of law and to take such measures as may be necessary to secure the arrest and prosecution of Chinese laborers who are unable to show that they have obtained lawful admission into the United States.