New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-27
THE SVINDLED CHINESE CLAIMANTS.
A NEW coNsULGENERAL EXPECTED IN SAN

NEW CoNsUL-GENERAL EXPECTED IN SAN
FRANCISCO FROM THE FLowERY KINGDOM.
San Francisco Aug. 90 (spcclaD.-The scandal at
the Chinese Consulate, teegraphed I'm these dispatches
Yesterday and which The Chronicle published OK
clusvely in this city this morning, was the talk OF
the town today Further inquiry shows that the
first estimates of the amounts taken from the poor
Chinese claimants not exaggerated but reveals
that the Chinese Consul-General not the chief
party In the frauds. 1t is learned that LeOng Hong
Tsaing is high literary official but has practical
shrewdness. one of the attaches of the Legation,
who also acts Tsaings private secretary, devised
the scheme. This mans name IS shin Toy, and he
has established reputation for speculative ability.
When the large of money began TO pour into
the Consulate for the hundreds of claimants he
ceived the brilliant plan of retaining about threequar
ters of it, under the pretext that this
portion was consumed in fees and ex-
pcnses, reckoning on the ignorance of the poor
Chinese claimants 20 bear out the fraud. To make
the scheme success, he formed syndicate with two
large Chinese merchants hore lie You MOy and long
Box Lung heads of the respective clans. These head
men, for share in the swinde, agreed 10 advise all
their counrymen who had claims TO accept what the
Consul gave them and ask no questions, as, If they
refused they would get nothing. The scheme worked
like charm. Many Of the Chinese kicked at the
terrible percentage exacted, but most Of them ac-
cepted the terms. Several who applied 10 white law
yers told of the difficulty of establishing case
in the Federal courts, because the money had been
turned 10 the chief representative Of ,he Chinese
Government and, therefore, their only redress was
from China.
1t was well known in Chinatown that the Consul
General received the lions share Of this great
squeeze which amounted 10 not less than 100000.
The expenses merely nominal as those best
Informed declare that money spent IN lobby
ing at Washington, since there practically
opposition % the claims several influential China
men here few months ago determined to bring the
Consul General 10 punishment. They went about the
work in a peculiarly Oriental way. They sent no
memorial 10 the Emperor, because such documents
would reach him. Instead, they prepared full
deta Is OF the fraud showing how hundreds OF poor
here and their relatives In China had been robbed
These accounts dispatched 10 leading Chinese
newspapers in Canton and Hong Kong, which are
semi.O official ORGANS of the Government The pub
lcaOn of these stories created a great sensation
there. and the EmperOr's attention was Immediately
called the matter. The result was that new
COns,il-Gener for Francisco was secretly ap
pointed and i expected here by the next steamer, with
full power. TIE present official cannot escape He
viii he ordered 10 China, and II he obcys, he VIII
probably be decaptated. If h refuses to return then
The Government win simply call upon the high
binders here 10 assassnate him. as the Chinese al
thortes never bother about the extra1ton OF Grim
inals