New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-29
THE NEW CHfNESE TREATY.

The new Chinese EXCLUSION treaty, WHICH, Vhc
President has submitted to the Senate is de-
signed to remove the grounds Of dissatisfaction
existing on the Pacific Coast with the opera
ton of the former treaty. By the law OF 1889.
passed in pursuance Of the treaty OF 1880 the
immigration of Chinese laborcrs was suspended
for ten years. but laborers already In this coun-
try were permitted to visit China and return
upon presenting certificates granted for that
purpose. This exception has been greatly
abused Laborers going back to China with
out any intention of coming again to this coun-
try have nevertheless taken out certificates
which they have sold at home and under which
new immigrants have had no difficulty, owing
to the remarkable sameness of Mongolans, in
entering the country.
Other loopholes were found. 1t was decided
BY the United States Supreme Court that all
Chinese who were in this country when the
treaty was signed. or who came here before the
Restriction Act was passed, and who left by sea
before the latter date could return without
certificates, upon proper evidence OF previous
residence This opened wide door TO fraud
Many Chinaman, it is said. went to China
with his certificate. sold it, and came back to
swear himself through with the aid OF his
crafty fellow countrymen. under this decision.
The transit privileges have also been greatly
abused. Laborers were allowed to enter our ter
ritory in order to pass to another country, but
the number Of those awaiting themselves OF this
privilege has been so large as to satisfy any rea-
sonable person that the law was being evaded.
During the last FIVE months of 1882 only 76
persons asked for this privilege. In the three
wears following, more than $4,000 entered on
this plea. There is every reason to believe
that large proportion Of these persons are now
to be found among the permanent Chinese pop
ulation of the Pacific Coast. There were still
other means of evasion. The treaty secured to
students teachers, merchants, and persons COM
ing from curiosity, or travellers, and to their
body and household servants the right to come
and 90 at pleasure and numbers undoubtedly
found their way in under these heads who had
no right to enter Taking into consideration
also the ease with which Chinese could be
smuggled over the border from Canada, it is not
at all difficult to believe that the actual rate OF
Chinese immigration has been greater as it is
claimed. since the Restriction Act was passed
| than before.
The new treaty, in which the Chinese Gov
eminent cordially concurs, forbids the entrance
OF aD0rerS curing tne ncAt twehy sSaiS pus
permits any laborer who has lawful wife,
child or parents in the United States, or has ac-
cumulated property here amounting to 81 900
or debts due him of that amount. to visit China
| and return. But he is required to deposit on
leaving careful description of his family or
! property, and he must return within year,
unless sickness or some serious disability pre-
vent The privileges of Chinese officials,
teachers students merchants. or travellers for
curiosity or pleasure, under the former treaty
are not abridged, and the privilege of transit is
not withdrawn, though our Government re-
serves the right to guard it more carefully
This seems to como as near To absolute exclu-
sion as the most earnest advocate Of that policy
could well ask The laborer who has family
or property to the amount stated is not likely
to surrender his right TO either to another and,
unless he is so endowed, when he leaves tho
country, the door shuts behind him. The
largest possibilities Of fraud under the new
treaty would seem to be in the applications for
the right of transit, and it is obvious that here
the Government proposes 10 take tricter pre-
cautions 1t will be interesting to watch the
reception of the treaty by the Pacific Coast