Speech #580059926

I ask the lawyers of the body to give attention. It provides for absolute prohibition. not a prohibition to continue for but ten years. The laws it reenacts are to continue "until otherwise provided by law." So does every law not limited in its terms with or without the provision "until otherwise provided by law." Under the treaty of 1880 prohibition of their immigration limited as to time could only be adopted. Such was the act of 1882 and of 1892. but the act of 1902 is unlimited and continuing prohibition. so long as the treaty of 1894 is in force such prohibition is not inimical to it. but when it falls and the treaty of 1880 remains. then it is inimical to that treaty and must go to the wall. The framers of the act of 1902 knew quite well that when the treaty of 1894 was denounced it would be inimical to the treaty of 1880. because that treaty simply permitted the United States to pass laws that "suspended. limited. and regulated" the incoming of Chinese. and declared that they should not absolutely prohibit.