The morning call., 1891-11-20
POSED AS A NOTARY.
Vice.COnsul Bee Rebuffed by
Collector Phelps.
His Chinese Bonds Discountenapced at the
Custom-House - Extortionate Fees
Exaeted of His Clients.

To Bee or not to Bee?" is the question
the Chinese bond-seekerS are rapidly learn
ing to answer in the negative. They think
he is too high priced. They have said as
much and even placarded it about in China
town. the result Of which has been falling
off in the patronage the Vice Consul has
hitherto had from his Monaghan clients.
A month or so since there arrived from
the Treasury Department orders to Collector
Phelps to release Chinese on bonds of S400
each, where he was satisfied their cases
fulfilled certain legal requirements. The
bonds thus required had to be properly
sworn to, then vised by the Chinese Consul.
The latter requirement seems to have put a
large-sized idea in Vice-C onsul Bees hat,
which be pulled tightly over his ears to
keep 1t from escaping.
Being Chinese official and white man
the Chinese bond-seekers, more or less in
nocently, thought he had a double pulp
with the powers that he. Vice. Consul Bee
does not appear at any stage of his official
career as a discOurager of this miscOncep-
ton. that position being sustained by no
less person than Collector Phel ps, and ne
has sustained it so well that Bee is fast
losing prestige as sure thing" man.
RAISED THE PRICE.
First the usual fee charged by the law
yers filing out the bonds for Chinese has
been So each. Vice-Consul Bee raised it to
So. with the privilege of raising it higher.
This raise was noticed by the mo sabe"
men, but they did not protest as they thought
the extra 81 went in some manner to the
pull" and perhaps Bee would be charging
his high fees yet had it not been for an un-
foreseen event.
The bonds he had flied out reached Col
lector Phelps in the course, Of time, then
Bees funny business stopped. Taking up
one of the bonds the Collector read it over,
looked at it twice, then said, well, ~
That is as far as lie ever gors with an oath.
But in little while the Vice-Consul was
before him.
Did you take these af1davits?" referring
to the bonds, queried Collector Phelps.
Yes"
''Are you a notary public?''
mo, not exactly; Pm Yice-Consul with
consular powers.
"Why did you swear these bondsmen ?
Don't you know you have not the legal
power TO do it?'
Pm Vice Consul, as 1 said before,
with consular powers, one of which is to
take deposltions. 1t is IN my power to
swear these bOndsmen."
SETTLED THE QUESTION.
at is not. I'll have you know it is not.
l am Collector oil this port. In matters
concerning the IMPOSITION of duty / NAV
tves. You, as an attache to Consul have
certain powers, but they are circumscribed.
The swearing of bOudsmen is not part of
your duties rs Vice Consul, and you cannot
legally do it."
81 say l can"
Well, wont accept any bonds sworn to
before 20: anyhow. guess that will settle
the question"
Colonel Bee left the presence of Collector
Phelps much depressed. If his bonds were
not accented, how was he going to make his
money? The next applicant for bond was
told. after it was properly filed out, to go TO
notary public and have it sworn to-an
extra expense of 80 cents. Evidently Bee
had solved the problem. This change in
filling out the bonds was an extra expense,
aud the Chinese fell to comparing notes and
holding war councils. The result was a
break. They concluded there had been a
hitch somewhere between the Vice-Consul
and his supposed pull with the result de-
cidedly against the former. If this was so,
what was the use of paying 81 90 extra
They said they would not, SO help them,
Joss, and placards were posted on the walls
OF Chinatown to that effect
Since then the bulk of the Chnese-b bond
business has gone to the regular Chinese
lawyers, and whenever Bee does fill one out
he is careful not to assume the powers of a
notary iublic, as he knows Collector
Phelps will reject it. However. he still pro-
tests his ability to legally take dispositions.