The morning call., 1891-08-08
In TRANSIT CHINESE.
e. 2. Huntington Protests
Against Existing Rules.
He Says the Canadian Pacific Is Receiving
the Lions Share Of the TraficCon.
sui Bees Epistle.

Collector of the Port Phelps is in receipt
from the Treasury Department Of consider
aple correspondence bearing on the regula-
uon governing the shipment OF Chinese in
transit from San Francisco to Eastern
points, especially to New Orleans, where
many ship for Havana. The correspond
ence embraces letter from the Imperial
chinese Consulate, written by Vice Consul
Bee, and from Coils P. Huntington of the
Southern Pacific Company; also depart
ment instructions.
The two inclosed copies of letters are pro-
tests against the regulation of the depart
ment issued after the attempted substitu-
ton at New Orleans of two Chinese for
those IN bond, but released to secure their
outfits. This attempted substitution failed,
ana the department passed more stringent
rules, by which no in-transit Chinese is al
lowed to be temporarily released or even to
mlngle with his fellow-countrymen not in
transit.
ms prohibited landing, except under the
close surveillance Of some official of the
Government, and prevented the purchase
OF necessareS and articles of comfort. All
TINS Mr.. Huntington protests against in the
interest of the Southern Pacific, and Consul
Bee adds his voice, as lie says, that the Chi
Huntington, in the course of his letter, says ::
HUNTINGToN's PROTEST.
The Interests of the American transportation
companies in the conduct OF This business-tne
Chlnese passenger lraffic-is direct, obvious ana
Important The establishment OF rules and regl-
latlons, which impose hardships on Chinese in
trains, has only one natural aud necessary effect
which Is TO deprive the American transportation
lines OF this important business, naturally aud
normally belonging TO them and TO turn them
over TO foreign lines, such as the Canadian Pa
cine, In which The United States certainly has no
interest, and in respect TO transportation by
when no safeguards whatever exist.
Mr. Huntington's letter also claimed that
5000 Chinese had been sent across the coun-
try IN bond in transit, and that in all but
TWO cases the safe delivery had been eff
fected. Even in the New Orleans case he
claimed that the fact of detection showed
that the then existing rules were sufficiently
stringent.
Consul Bees letter was a general all
around protest against everything tending
10 hinder the free lngress and egress of his
clients. lie recites at length the cases of
Chinese merchants" with property in Peru
ana elsewhere who were III bond In transit,
but who had not been allowed to commu-
nlcate or 'mingle" with his people while in
TINS city, not even when he Vice Consul
Bee had personally solicited the privilege.
WHAT MIR. PHELPS WOULD LIKE.
Collector Phelps, i'll commenting on the
correspondence, said: "When the question
OF sendlng chinese across the country first
came up was for such provisions as would
insure their safe delivery and at the same
time give them such comfort while in trsnsit
| as could be given them with safety. As it
| Is now, the Chinese are bonded at the rate
| OF $500 each by the railroad company, which
insures their delivery. They leave my
bands under the railroads bond. The rail
road then becomes responsible for their
persons, and as TO their comfort il is to the
interest of the railroad 10 see that they are
not prosecuted aud are taken as good care
of as possible.
-" The Treasury Department quotes San
Francisco newspaper as saying That in tran
sit Chinese had been locked up thirty-fve in
car and sent across the country in care of
one official. Or that l know nothing and
did not see the article quoted. but if it did
happen the railroad is responsible. Never
tleless | do think the regulations are too
closely drawn and that their modification
might insure an increase of Chinese travel
through this country in transit. [ would
much rather they came direct here. | could
then receive and keep them under my care
As it is, the bulk of the trade is turned
to the Canadian Pacific and Canada takes
no care to keep track of them afterward.
They escape into the United States by the
wholesale Some are captured, but more
are not. Those who happen to fall into the
hands of Government officials are sent to me
for deportation, which is done in such cases
at the expense of the Government. If they
came direct here and had 10 be remauded
the steamship company would have to pay
all expenses"