The gentleman from California asked me a few moments ago if you could punish a man criminally for an act done without intent. I answer him in the words of his bill. that it is purposed here to do precisely that thing. If a conductor upon a railroad which has not made he contract. or the keeper of an international bridge. permits. without negligence. an alien to get off his railroad car or a bridge at some point other than designated by the immigration officials. he is guilty of a misdemeanor. although the alien may have knocked him down or clubbed him or gotten away and across the line. and particularly in the case of the railroad which. crosses the line at some place other than the place designated. Yet that man who had been founded. who had been assaulted. could be brought up in the United States court. tried for a misdemeanor. and. worse. if he h~e convicted the minimum penalty is mandatory and he could not be fined less than $200.
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immigration