Speech #570044265

The Senator from Colorado has forgotten the doctrine of legislative recognition. He has forgotten the long. long line of decisions by which the courts have held repealed laws to be revived by being treated as if in force. and those decisions are overwhelming in numbers. For the Senator to say that because the act never took effect. not on account of unconstitutionality. but because the treaty upon the ratification of which depended its going into effect never was ratified. Congress has not the power to reenact it except formally. surprises me. Does the Senator mean to say that if the amendment of the Senator from Connecticut. continuing in force all laws relating to Chinese exclusion. had incorporated in it these words. "including the act entitled An act to prohibit the coming of Chinese laborers to the United States. approved September 13. 1888." that from the approval of the substitute bill by the President that would not become a part of the law of the land?