The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-16
HEADING THEM OFF.
Chinese Cannot Pass in Transit
for Mexico.
The Collector Through the Department Scores
an Important Point Against Chinese
Invasion.

Collector of the Port Phelps added another to
his already long list of important victories over
the Chinese who try to evade the Restriction
Act, when telegram arrived from Washington
yesterday morning announcing the revocation of
the Treasury Department regulation allowing
Chinese laborers to pass through this country in
transit TO. Mexico.
When Chinese laborers first began to pass
through the port OF San Francisco with through
tickets 10 Guaymas and other Mexican ports
little attention was paid TO them, as 1t was sup.
posed that they were going to work on farms or
IN mines in Mexico.
Tie customs officials in the southern part OF
this State, however, began TO discover that in
stead OF going to the ports TO which they were
consigned, but where steamers did not touch,
they were landing at ports near The American
frontier aud gradually sneakng back into United
States territory.
A large number were captured in the act and
Collector Phelps was then made cognlzant of
The fact.
THE COLLECTOR ACTS.
Alter investigating the matter and satisfying
himself that the Chinese went TO Mexico for the
sole purpose of working an easy entrance Iuto
the United States the Collector acted promutly
aud, on The arrival of the steamship Oceanic
win eighty-seven Chinese in transit for q uay-
mas, he I fused TO allow The coolies 10 20 on
board tie steamer CITY OF Sydney on the grounds
that the steamer did not touch at GuaymaS aud
that the pagans would have TO land Al Epseuada
as they had previously done, and would then re-
turn through Southern California, as others had
before them. He telegIaphed to Washington re-
gaidIng his action, asking that 1t he approved
and also for Instructions.
This telegram, which was sent on Saturday
last, was az follows:
COMING OVER THE BORDER.
Secretary Treasury, Washington, D. C.: The City
OF FekiHg, arriving March 25th brought seventy
nine chinese holding through tickets to Guaymas
Mexico, who were all transferred the steamer
Newoern All were landed at Ensenada and hor-
IN
states nave been arrested and are now in custody
On the 10Th inst. the Oceanic arrived having on
board elghty-seve Chinese provided with through
tickets ior Guaymas 1t Is sought to transfer these
Dut not al Quay mas This have refused
transit to GuaymaS and 1876 10 Mazatlan. EIgnty-
and have Information that Others are entering The
United states at Nogales. 1 regard my action as
Important IN executing Exclusion Act.
7. c. PHELPS. Collector
NOT TO LET THEM CO.
Though the sailing of the CITY OF sydney was
delayed Tor Two hours no answer came TO the
telegram, and Mr.. Phelps, acting under the ad-
last gave reluctant consent TO Tie sailing OF The
steamer.
Yesterday morning the delayed telegram from
the department arrived. and though il could not
bring back the eighty-seyen coolies who mad
gone south by the sydney il put an effective stOp
10 one OF tile principal lOOphOleS through which
Chlnese illegally leak into The country. II was
as follows:
WAsHINGToN ID. C. }, April IA, 1890.
collector Of Customs San francisco CAL. Chinese
la1orers per Gee mic with through tickets for Quay
mas, having come under the privileges allowed BY
Instructions OF my predecessor, under the date Of
November 10, 1888, may be transferred to Panama
steamer unless you are satisfied that they are at
tempting TO enter this country in violation Of law
Out such instructions are now revoked take effect
upon all vessels leaving China after the 18th inst
Notify ali parties interested.
W. WINDOW, Secretary.
PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS.
Inc INSTRUCTIONS OF November 10, 1888, re-
teTred to by Mr.. Window, were as follows:
Chinese laborers upon vessels now in port or
hereafter arriving from foreign countries destfneI
tor ports beyond the Jurisdiction OF the United
states, may be transferred N the harbor to other
vessels for the purpose OF proceeding to the place
OK destination, but must be safely guarded during
the transfer TO prevent the infraction of Chinese
Exclusion ACT. MAyNARD
Assistant Secretary Treasury.
Immediately on receipt of the telegram from
the Secretary OF The Treasury, Collector Phelps
notlhed all Tie steamship companies engaged in
The traftlc Of bringing Chinese IN transit of he
instructions OF the department and warned them
mat In future no Chinese could pass through
United States territory in transit for Mexico
IT VIII not put stop 10 all smuggling Of this
Kind" said the Collector, "for we must allow
them to pass through in transit for Panama
Havana, etc., but II IS step in the right dlrec
Ton ana We hope soon 10 stop all who have any
chanee Of escaping aud who try to pass through
the country"