The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1889-01-02
From the Ncto York Sun.

From the Ncto York Sun.
The Chinese of New York, unlike
other alien residents, have government
of their own, independent of the one
they are living under Qhe American).
They obey the latter simply as a matter
of form. The reasons why they have an
additional government are amusing and
interesting. One is that the laws of the
Christians are too complicated for the
Chinaman's understanding and too in
efficient for his protection. Cinnamon
hate a red.tape government Their own
laws are made according to the require.
ments of the just and for the humiliation
of the lawless, and every law is based
upon the dictates of a pure conscience
For these reasons the Cinnamon of New
York elect their own municipal officers.
with their temporary headquarters at 10
Chatham Square, while their regular
municipal rooms are being built at 10
Mott street
No Chinaman is allowed TO have a
voice in the election Of these municipal
officers unless he is n reputable business
man. He who is once convicted of n
crime, either in an American court of
justice or in the Chinese community. is
not entitled to q vote. All candidates
for municipal honors are chosen without
regard to their stations in life. They
must, however, be honorable and pos
sessed Of literary attachments. The lat
far pnnli fia,, tp 1oa,,,,J 1xrtl ,n( !,
an evidence of ability
The Chinese in New York have a
chairman or mayor called Zoon Fab
Koon So Cean Sung, and jury or board
of aldermen, composed of twelve old
men, called the "Kai Fong," or Getty
Fathers who are elected at the same
time with the Zoon Fab So Cean Sung,
once year. The salary of the last
named official is 1866 year, but there
are perquisites which make the post
worth at least 81 200 year. These per.
quisites come from the settlement of
minor disputes between Cinnamon whose
cases are not of such importance as to de-
mand full aldermanic trial, nor serious
enough to be carried into the American
courts, and from drawing Chinese legal
papers and other writings Of commercial
or social importance.
Immediately under the chairman's di-
rection is a chu fan, or constable, who
acts also as town crier and general mes
senger for the chairmans court. The
chu fans salary is So week. He serves
for life unless impeached for bad con-
duct. His Office is remunerative aside
from the regular salary. He gets fees
from plaintiffs for calling special meet
ings of the Kai Fong, when he runs and
goes about from store to store to notify
the twelve old men of Chinatown. This
fee varies from $1.25 to 50. Sometimes
eight meetings are called within week
for the discussion of the affairs of China
town, and for the adjustment Of dis
putes.
The Kai Fong Twelve men) get no
salary except cigar apiece for attend
ance on each meeting. Theirs are places
of honor only. The late Ii Yu Doc was
chairman of this august body. At every
meeting the chairman of the Municipal
Council acts as judge, with the president
of the Kai Fong as vice-judge. The
cases are argued by the spokesman of
each contestant, the twelve old men
listening attentively and asking ques-
tons whenever doubtful point arises.
The Kai Fong, without leaving their
seats, must cast their votes in the square
box upon the table before the court, and
the chairman gives his decision accord
| ing to these votes.
| If the disputants are not satisfied
| they can carry their cases to the
American courts, but they will thereby
forfeit forever their right to appear as
complainants in the municipal court of
Chinatown. The public affairs of
Chinatown are managed by council of
twenty-four old men, or double Kai
Fong. The additional twelve men are
likewise reputable business men in the
community. No important affair, such
as public amusement or charitable
enterprise, can take place among the
Cinnamon of New York, unless sane
toned by these twenty four men. When
their Endorsement is secured, however,
the undertaking is vely likely to be q
success.
Nearly $4,000 was raised in few
weeks among the Chinese merchants
and laundrymen of New York and vi
cinity short time ago for the building
of new municipal council rooms on Mott
street, simply because the double Kai
Fong Endorsed the project. But not O
single dollar was raised for similar in
stitution to be built in San Francisco be-
cause this august body refused to APP
prove it. The money received from the
taxes which the Chinese municipality
imposes is under the direct control of
four of the most honored of the twelve
old men of Chinatown.
1t is kept, though, in regular Ameri.
can iron safe. The combination lock
was taken off, however, and in its place
four big brass padlocks were fastened
on its side. Each of the treasurers car
ries key to his own lock only, so when
an order for money is issued by the
Municipal Council, the four men must
appear together before the safe can be
opened and the money taken out. The
scheme Is considered an effectual bar to
any imitation of the popular American
habit of fleeing to Canada with other
peoples money.
Little Helps for Housekeepers.
| XrOJD ma ~ Y Gr1Dbig