Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-07-16
INCREASED CHINESE IMMIGRATION
The Effect Of the Fifteen at -aTime
Bill.
San Francisco Chronicle.


The recent arrival of one thousand
Chinese upon the steam er City of Toxic
has caused considerable comment in
various places east and west Of the
Rocky mountains Those who know
comparatively nothing in regard to the
true features of the matter have con-
cocted various stories in reference to it.
The arrival was a remarkable one, as
no steamer for many years past has
brought to California such large mum
Der of arrivals during this season Of
the year. The usual number of arriv-
ais during this season for years past has
rarely exceeded one hundred, the City
OF Ioklo bringing the largest number
one hundred and tWenty-ive-inJ une
or July, 1873. A Chronicle reporter
called upon F. A. Bee, the consul of
the Chinese empire at this port, and
from him obtained an explanation of
the recent arrivals. Consul Bee stated
that In Hongkong and the districts in
China from which the Celestials in this
country have principally come, the
progress of the recent bill in relation to
the Chinese before the national legisla-
|
knew the provisions in reference to re-
strlctlng any one vessel from bringing
more than fifteen; and, as there are
hundreds there who have been in and
intend to return to this country, they
waited for the news of its rejection or
passage with great interest. When the
bill passed both houses, Reuters agents
telegraphed the fact around the world,
and the Chinese believed the bill had
become a law. They knew nothing in
tregaro to the presidents veto, but
thought that the matter had been finally
settled by the passage Of the bill through
both houses. Convinced that only fiji
teen could come at one time after the
4th of July, the large number who
wanted to return to this country made
up their minds to come at once, thereby
running no risk of paying increased
rates of passage or OF struggling for an
indefinite time to be one Of the fortu-
nate fifteen that should secure pas
sage on boats arriving here after Jul l.
Consul Bee stated that he visited the
Toxic on her arrival here, and recog-
nized many of those who came as men
who had been for years in California,
and who had gone On visit to China
From inquiries made by him, he as
certained that fully 70 per cent. Of
the one thousand had been in the
country before. Many of them brought
their families with them, they having
gone home for that purpose. Of these
who did not come there were num-
Der VINO did not intend to return until
a..
largest number are destined for Homo
lulu. to which place many of them held
through tickets. The sugar-planters Of
the Sandwich Islands are very anxious
to obtain Chinese field hands. They
find some difficulty in getting them
from California, because the wages
they are willing to pay are lower than
are paid here. They, therefore, have
to resort to Hongkong, but there they
meet with another difficulty. Hong
kong is a crown colony Of England, and
English dependencies in Australia de-
string to obtain Chinese labOrers, it is
said that Bishop Hennessy, governor of
| Hongkong, discourages immigration to
Honolulu and California, in order to
turn the stream toward English colon
les.
South Australia wants the Chinese to
settle III its northern territory, while
the sugar planters of the FIJI islands
want them for the same work that the
planters Of the Sandwich Islands do.
These facts render it difficult for the
Chinese to leave direct from Hongkong
to Honolulu. A German bark was re-
| rently laid on at Hongkong, and
large number of Chinese had taken
passage by her, but her departure was
In some way prevented. This state OF
affairs renders it necessary for Chinese
who desire to reach Honolulu to come
to this city first. The City of Pekin on
her last trip brought ninety of them
who had through tickets to Honolulu,
and among the one thousand that
came by the Toxic there were many
destined to the same port. Those who
PAID their transportation were also
under the impression that not more
than fifteen could come on any steam
er after July 4, hence the large num-
Der of arrivals. Consul Bee was of the
opinion that there will be no further
| arrivals Of this character for some time.
Some of those arrivals had gone after
| their families and were afraid to delay
| their return until next winter. as they
at first proposed, because they thought
they could not secure transportation on
the steamers, there being SO many who
wanted to return. There is at present
an unusual demand for Chinese labor
on the plantations Of the Sandwich
Islands, but a very small one on this
coast. Owing to the difficulty of OBJ
tanning shipping from Hongkong direct
to Honolulu, it is probable that the
Chinese who will be brought to supply
this demand will be taken by wayof this
city, but their number will be COM
paratively small.
An Ancient Punch and Judy.
The Punch and Judy idea is over
1000 years old. The Celestial Emperor
Kao Tsu B. G. 206) was shut up in the