New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-11

twenty men whom pay, and provisions OF thelr
own, which they buy. Thus have nobody TO feed
and care for They do it themselves This Is the reply
have received in half dozen instances Wherei
made enquiry. Any one can see that with sueh an OF
eanization of labor many things can be easily done
which under our different and looser system, man
would not rashly undertake. So far as have been
able to learn, such thing as a gang of Chinese
leaving piece of work they had engaged to do I'M
less they we're cheated or ill-treated, is unknown
Then they don't drink whisky. With allthis, any one
can that they need not work cheap. To a man
who wants to get piece of work done, their sys-
tematic ways are worth good deal of money In
point of fact they are quick enough to demand
higher wages.
THE CHINESE FURNISHING THE GREATEST PRoPoR-
TIoNATE NUMBER OF CRIMINALS.
OF the population of California, when the census
of 1870 was TAKEN 1870 were Chinese, 4,421 were
Irish, 9701 were Germans, and 100 born IN
the United States. In an official return from the
California State Prison, the number of convicts in
1871 the last year reported is given $50; of whom
All were native born. 11s were Chinese, Sc were
Irish, 90 were German. This gives in convicts one
in every 65 of the whole population of the State;
in III of the native born in 7 of the Chinese;
one in 6S2 of the Irish born, and in 024 of the
Germans That is to say, of the different naionah-
tiles the Germans contribute the fewest convicts,
the native born next the Irish next, and the Chinese
the greatest number proportionately. But pray bear
in mind the important fact that the Chinese here
are almost entirely grown men; they have no fami-
lies here and but small number of women, almost
all of whom are moreover. prostitutes. III then you
would compare these figures rightly you would
have to leave out of the count the women ana
children of all the other naonalities 1t would per-
haps then appear that the Chinese furnish much
smaller proportion of criminals than the above
figures show and this in spite of the well-known
fact that Dame Justice commonly turns very cold
shoulder toward Chinaman. l wonder that the
comparison shows so favorably for them.
It is said that they send money out of the country
wonder who sends the most, the Chinaman or the
white foreigneri If one could get at the sums re-
mitted to England, Ireland and Germany, and those
sent to China, | don't know which would be the
greater. But Chinese to whom mentioned this
charge made me an excellent answer He said:
Suppose You work for me; suppose / pay you |;
what business what you do with money. If you
work good for me. that all care. No business my,
what you do your pay" Surely, he was rights the
Chinaman may send some part of his wages out OF
the country, though not much for he must eat must
be clothed and lodged, must pay railroad and stage
fares. must smoke opium and usually gamble lit
tie. When all this is done the surplus of China
mans wages is not great But suppose he sent of
all his pay; he does not and cannot send off the
work he has done for it, the bitches he has dug, the
levees he has made. the meals he has cooked, and
the clothes he has washed and roned the harvest he
helped to SOW and gather, and the vegetables he has
raised; the cigars and shoes, blankets gloves, slip
pers. and other things he has made. These remain
to enrich the country, to make abundance where,
bur for his help there would be scarcity or impor-
tation from other States or countries.
But lately it is asserted that the Chinese have
brought or will bring the leprosy hither. This is
genuine cry anguish and terror from the HOodums
For bear in mind that according to the best medical
opinion in the Sandwich Islands, where this disease
is more frequent and has been more thoroughly
studied ii is communicated only by cohabitation.
If you ask policeman to pilot you through the
Chinese quarter between and II o'clock any night
you viii see the creatures who make this outcry.
They are Hoodlums, gangs of whom perambulate
the worst alleys and pass in and out OF the vilest
kennels.
THE SIX COMPANIES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS.
lam curious to know something about the " Chinese
Companies" of which one frequently hears here; and
which exercise important powers upon their contry-
men all over the State. What follows concerning
these organizations / have derived from converse
ton with several Chinese who speak English and
with missionary who labors among them. There
are six of these companies calling themselves
Yong Wong" "Howk Wab," Sam Yup," Yen
Wah," Kong Chow" and " Yong Woh." They are
benevolent societies. each looks after the people
who come from the province district for whose
behalf il is formed. When ship comes into port
with Chinese the heads of the companies board it,
and each takes the names of those who belong to
his province. These then come into the charge of
their proper company that lodges and if necessary
feeds Them as quickly possible secures them en-
ployment; and, if they to go to distant point,
lends them money. The company'also cares for the
sick if they are frendless and without means; and
it sends home the bones of those who die here.
Moreover, it settles all disputes between Chi
nese, levies fines upon offenders. and when
a Chinaman wishes to return home,
his company examines his accounts and
oblges him to pay his just debts here before leav-
ing The means to do all this are obtained by the
voluntary contributions of the members, who are
all who land here from the province which a com
pany represents. In the Canton company, Sam
Yup,~ was told that the members pay 81 each,
which sum is paid at any time but always before
they 90 home. Suppose q man does not pay ~
asked Chinese who speaks English very well. He
replied "Then the company loses it, but all who
can, pay. Very seldom any one refuses" Sup
poseD said /, "a Chinaman refuses to respect the
company's decision, in case OF quarrelP He re-
Piled, "They never refuse 1t is their own com
pany. They are all members" Naturally there are
sometimes losses and deficit in the treasury. This
is made up by levying an additional contribution.
"Do the companies advance money to bring over
Chnesefr "No," was the reply, "the company las
no money; it is not business association. but only
for mutual aid among the Chinese here" Nor does
it act as an employment Office for this is separate
and very well organized business 1t sends home
the homes of dead men, and this costs SIS; and