The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1881-12-03
Sinching the Coolies.

S. F. Chronicle: The mortal dread in
which the. Nine Companies are held by the
average Monaghan must have been made
apparent even to casual observer yester.
day, Immediately preceding the departure
Of the Rio de Janerio for China. Despite
the endeavors which have been made to
prevent the collection of the tax imposed
by the companies on the outgoing Chinese
the prospective passengers were closely
scrutinizcd, and Intercepted as to the pos.
session Of the talismanic red or pink ticket,
which otensibly bears evidence that the
departing Celestial is not surreptitiouslv
taking leave Of his creditors, but which &C.
tually denotes that he has acceeded to the
demands Of the companies. The distribu:
ton OF printed circulars among the deni-
zens Of Chinatown has been productive of
no good, as was fully evidenced yesterday
were on the deck waiting for their turn to
stand and deliver the little tinted tickets.
A squad Of policemen under the command
OF Captain Short were on each side OF the
gangrlank, anxiouslv awaiting an oppor-
tunity to proclaim the majesty OF the law
and insure the passage Of all such Chinese
as had been deemed recalcitrant by the
emissarics Of the Companies, and for
that reason denied admission to the vessel.
a perfect stream kept pouring in, inter.
ruptcd only by the slow search which nm
incumbered Celestial made for his red or
pink ticket. A command from the officers
to clear the gang plank was inva,ihlv
obeyed with inurmur, but, nevertheless,
the search went on inside, the poor fellows
baggage being lv(l in the meanwhile on
the plank to await further Developments.
Two emssarics OF the Chinese Companies
were at the very entrance Of the vessel,
each OF whom scanned the advancing Mon.
golians, taking from them the invarible red
or pink ticket, exercising the duties OF their
office with the utmost conplacencv, and
perfectly oblivious Of the police officers.
Again the sagacitv Of the heather was APP
parent. Approaching the fact that excep
ton to their presence might he taken and
their consequent removal utterly destroy
their plans, the Companies had the fore.
sightedness to engage passage for their col.
lectors, and thus every emergency was AIDE.
quately guarded against. The plan of ar.
resting an obtiurate is also easily explained.
When the passage is paid for, the name Of
some migrating Monaghan is taken. aud
any agent Of the Nine Companies can as.
certain who proposes to decamp, and by
means of.a warrant either force the pay.
'nent OF the head tax, or compel the vov.
ager to await another boat. Fictitious
names would be OF no purpose, as the Dep.
utv Assessor insist upon the production OF
a poll tax receipt, which, il found to vary
from the name ON the ticket, would entail
another payment for poll tax. The exact
situation was very tersely described bv
Sing Lee to the reporter, who told him to
try and get aboard without showing his
pink ticket, personally assuring him that
officers were in r. adiness to enforce his
rights: mo. sabe. Chiefce Plice-fooi
Wha' 70 he say no pay ticker. You no ply
ticker, come down hear. No got ticker,
you shabee Sheriff. You no go China.
You see two China,nan come down lust
now: lie go back fechee ticker. Eco
muChec no good