The morning call., 1890-05-15
THEY WILL COME.
FruilesS Efforts Of Customs Officers to
Check Chinese Smuggling.

WASHINGTON, May 14.-The reports of
Chinese Inspector Coon at San Diego, which
were transmitted to the Senate to-day, were
dated April 9TH and 9th and related in full
all accounts relative to the capture of the
twelve Chinese near San Diego on April
7th and of the capture of the slcop Benicia
Boy on April 9th with cargo of Chinese.
There is nothing new in the reports and the
lnSi ector makes no recommendations. He
submits map of what he calls the Chinese
underground railway between Mexico and
the United States. In a letter dated April
2lst, Coon corrobOrates the statement of
James Russell to Congressman Vandever
that the Chinese are still coming in despite
the work OF the customs authorities.
He then claims that the arrests, as noted
above, had a salutary effect OH the Chinese
by way OF checking the traffic of smuggling
them through the lines He reports twenty
tx Chinese and the captain of the Benicia
Boy In jail awaiting trial, and that the latter
has made confession. He also says that
he has made thorough examination of the
roads in that section and tinds many oppor-
tunities for Chinese 10 cross the line and
that with his present force it will be impos-
sible to prevent them.
After the Chinese succeed in entering San
Diego, Coon says, 1t 1t is practically impos-
slble to prove they have no right there. He
joins in with the statement of Russell that
the Exclusion Act is failure 50 far as exc
cutlOn is concerned, and says that when the
Chinese are captured and returned to Mex
leo they endeavOr to get back on the first
dark night. He finds they change their ap-
parel and adopt other disguises which pre-
vent Identification on their return.
From letters found Oh the captured Chi
nese it is learned that the traffic of SNUG
Cling them into the United States was not
= s..ly extensive, but had large capital inter
ests in it, the headquarters being in San
Francisco and China. For S140 per capita
the contractors signed to deliver the Chi
nese safely in the United States, and they
are brought to San Francisco and then
transferred by coasters TO Ensenada and
other points, where they work their way
back.
Windom's order forbidding the transfer
in San Francisco Coon believes to be a
good move aud will check traffic tempo
rarily. but not permanently, as hereafter
he believes they will come direct from
China to Mexico, as they seem determined
to enter the United States.
Coon also finds that the MeXicans are
growing jealous of the Chinese, and since
their coming that way their low wages
have been further reduced. At one time
the MeXicans hurried out and stoned
cargo OF Chinese that arrived.
In conclusion, Coon discusses pending
legislation on this subject before Congress,
and urges the adoption CT a treaty with
Mexico and Great Britain to prevent the
Chinese from entering those countries. He
believes the hardest punishment to be given
to the Chinese that have entered or do en-
ter the United States is to return them to
China, as sending them across the border
lines only makes them laugh, and, if they
should return from China, then imprison
them Tor long term OF years.