Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-22
TIE CAPITAL.
JUDGE HOFFMAN ON THE CHINESE
RESTRICTION BILLS.
The Struggle for the Convention
Plum-Ex-Confeder and the
Army-Pensions-E
SPECIAL DISPATCHES TO TIE azooAD.usloS.l
CHINESE FRAUDS.

Judge Hoffman Makes Some Suggestions
to Congress.
lcceyr9, 1855. by a,s California associated Prcss
WASHINGTON, February 2lst-The fol-
lowing letter explains itself
SAN FRANCISCO, February Is, 1888.
Ny dedr Senator: presume that Mr.. Belmont's
announcement that Mr.. Bayard is engaged in
negotiating a new treaty with China will in
definitely postpone the consideration of MIR.
feltons BILL think, however that even with
out this announcement it never would pass
without important notifications The obiec-
tons are grave and insuperable. Some of these
intended to take the liberty of pointing out to
MIR. FELTON,, but 1 suppose it is not now neces-
sary. Cannot the Pacific Coast delegation be
induced to unite upon your bill as q temporary
measure, and while waiting for the conclusion
OF the new treaty? There are now quarantined in
this port nearly 800 Chinese who viii apply TO be
permitted to land on the ground of previous res
idence" Another steamer is nearly due and
they will continue TO arrive at the rate of three
per month. Three or four weeks hence we viii
probably have one thousand cases on our cal
endars, and the number will be augmented at
the rate of not less than five hundred per
month What is to be done? The Government
and private parties have important suits await
ing trial, and Judge Sawyer requires my attend
ance in the Circuit Court in many of these. The
alternative is thus presented, either to sacrifice
all business TO the Chinese, or else to let the
Chinese go on bail for an indefinite period with
their number steadily increasing at the rate
If total prohibition of the Chinese be con-
templated the provisions in the second section
OF your bill will be unnecessary for no certif-
cate emitting them to return will be issued
Judge Sawyer and think it the better policy
to confine our efforts to procuring the adoption
of the first section of your bill but whatever is
done should be doDe at once, in order that the
three months within which previous residents
may return may begin to run. Every weeks S
| delay adds to the number of cases which are
overwhelming us.
N -oT nyta CIV
| has been the deception practiced upon u.s. |
will mention that within the last few months
nearly 100 women, imported for immoral pIlr-
poses, and whom it intended to land
| as previous residents, have been sent back
some by the Courts, but the greater part by
reason OF the abandonment of their cases BY
| their counsel The injustice of refusing any
| longer TO recognize this plea is hardly worth
considering. for believe that by far the larger
| frauds are SO skillfully prepared and the petit
! tioners are so thoroughly coached" on all
| points as to which they may be cross-examined
| that they usually escape detection. Add to this
that the ardent District Attorney has very rarely
| any evidence to offer, and you will see-and
| perhaps Congress will recognize-that previous
residence, instead of being the recognition of a
! right secured by treaty, is practically but a
meals OF perpetrating frauds upon the law aud
| the Courts.
l am sorry that this letter is so long. but the
paramount Importance or immediate action in
| This matter seemed to justify me in omitting no
suggestion that might have weight with YOU or
with your colleagues
With great respect, am, very truly, yours
OGDEN HOFFMAN.
The Hon. VIM. Stewart, United States Senate.