Speech #530033145

That the refusal was made in good faith I have no doubt. but it has created a great hardship upon those people. because. after this opinion had been rendered by these eminent counsel as to the constitutionality of this law. the case was brought by due process of law to the Supreme Court of the United States. and the Supreme Court of the United States. by a divided courtI think five to threedeclared the act to be constitutional. That decision was made. however. ten days after the expiration of the time within which the act of May 5. 1892. prescribed that certificates of registration should be taken out. and these people were left in the deplorable situation of being confronted with the law being declared constitutional. contrary to their expectations. without their having conformed to its provisions and without having at that time any opportunity to conform to them. So that over 100.090 of these unfortunate people are amenable to the penalties of that law and are liable to deportation. We find that the House of Representatives has sent us a bill. which has grown out of the pressure created by this exigency. a bill which in common justice extends the time within which these unfortunate persons may take out certificates of registration. which they omitted to take out under the circumstances I have narrated. I think that that portion of the act is clear. and I can not see that it requires any further commendation. In passing the bill through the other House it appears. as was inevitable. that people on the Pacific coast and others who have very decided opinions upon the whole matter of Chinese residence and Chinese immigration. made their opinions felt in the bill which has come to us. and as a result of that feeling there are certain provisions which have been added to the first section which extends the time for registration. The bill. I suppose. may be described as a compromise between extremes of opinion. and it seems to .have been the very best bill which under the bircumstances could immediately be passed through the other House.