Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-21

Complications Arising from the Re.
cent Law Passed By Congress.


San Francisco Examiner. august 10.
In enforcing the bill lately passed by
the United States against the immigra-
ton of Chinese laborers, the authorities
at Washington anticipate trouble that
has been, until lately, unlocked for. In
the province Of British Columbia. adj.
joining the northern limits of Montana
Territory, it is known that there are
already 1900 coolies, 5000 of whom
| are under engagement to work upon the
Canadian Pacific Railroad. Dispatches
from the East state that "compra-
doris" are organizing for the purpose
of sending over the line into the United
States all such as finish their labors on
the different roads. 1t is claimed by the
customs authorities in this city that the
fears of the Eastern officials are ground
less As long as the law provides that
Chinese shall be excluded, it also sup
poses that proper measures shall be
taken to enforce its provisions. Section
of the bill says that Chinese laborers
desiring to depart from the United States
by land shall be provided with the prop
er certificates, free of charge. "by the
Collector of Customs next adjoining the
foreign country to which said Chinese
laborers desire to GO" Likewise it pro
vides that customs collectors in that dis
trict exact of all incoming coolies the ne
cessary certificates allowing them to
come into the country.
The first MongOlians to arrive in this
port since the passage of the bill came
Tuesday from Australia on the Pacific
Mail steamer City of Sydney. She came
into harbor at o'clock, and, after being
inspected by the quarantine officer, was
allowed to proceed to her dock, which
she accomplished in part, as far as op-
pOsite Vallejo street wharf, when she
was signaled by the revenue barge John
F. Hartley and ordered to slow up. The
custom house officers having discovered
the sixteen Chinese members of the crew
without passports, the Captain was
ordered to come to an anchor in
the bay off the Pacific Mail
wharf. The commander Cesired
to dock the vessel and volunteered
to retain the crew on board, but the off
Gals would not grant the request, and
she dropped into the stream. The cabin
passengers and mails were landed by the
tug Millen Griffith. The coolies were
finally transferred to the hulk China and
the steamer dOcked at 6 o'clock in the
evening. 1t was agreed by Captain Will
liams, agent of the Pacific Mail Company,
and the Collector of the port that writ |
of habeas corpus be sued out before |
the Federal courts for the purpose of |
testing the application of the bill to |
the Chinese in question. At the time
of leaving California they were |
unable to procure passports, the bill |
being passed on the day of sailing. One |
of the detained Chinese claims to be an /
American citizen, his father being ma |
tive of Massachusetts and his mother a
Chinese, he being born in Canton. Sec
ton 1898 of the Revised Statutes pro-
vides for such cases, and it is surmised |
that the restriction bill will not apply in
his case. The ship Wildwood, which is
discharging a cargo at the Mail dock, |
also carries two Chinese among her /
crew, and with regard to them the same
action will be taken as with those of the |
Sydney, they having shipped from New
York in 1880, and, after proceeding to |
Hong Kong, were brought to this port
The second arrival of prohibited /
MongOlians was announced yesterday, |
the Oceanic, from China and Japan, |
having on board a crew of 70 who are
without the necessary documents en-
titling them to return to America An
action similar to that taken in regard to
the Sydney and the Wildwood will be |
the case, however, being some
what different. Both the others are
American vessels, and all who are en-
gagged in her can, perhaps rightfully, |
claim that they are citizens of the United |
States and beyond the reach of the law.
The Oceanic flies the English flag, and |
by her crew no such claim can |
be entered. One of the passengers on the
Oceanic, Mr.. Oliver, an Englishman, has |
with him a Chinese servant to whom he 1
is much attached He wished to have |
the servant landed, claiming that he was
unwell and that he needed the attend
ance of the Chinese boy, but the custom
house authorities were memorable, and /
the necessary permission was promptly
refused. Two of the Oceanic Celestials
attempted to land by means of
the forward chains. but were discovered |
by custom house inspector and prompt
ly returned on board. They were sub
transferred to the China to
await the decision of the courts.