The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-02
CHINESE EXCLUSION.
The County Clerks Dilemma if
the Law is Enforced,
No Fees Provided for Registering the Celes.
tials-Nor Is ANY Provision Made
for Extra Clerks.

new ana interesting situation has presented
ITSELF TO the County Clerk and as possible way
out OF his dilemma he had hurled several conun.
drums at the City and County Attorney that in
their way are genuine posers.
During the sitting of the last Legislature law
was passed that might with propriety be called a
chinese exclusion act. Indeed. that is Just what
the law aims TO be. 1t prescribes with wearI.
some and much OF the time incompsehensibe
minuta just how all concerned in the act shall
proceed to put 1t into effect. Rules are laid
aown at length for vessels, masters aud agents,
railroad contractors aud all others who NAV
nave anything to do with transportation setting
forth what class of Chinese are prohibited who
are excepted. and the penalty for violating the
rule by letting any one slip over the lines VINO
came within the inhibited class
THE VITAL ISSUE
But the vital part Of the law, and by means OF
which the States coolle population Is to be I'M
der ABSOLUTE control, Is the section requiring the
Chinese now here to be registered Section 8
makes 1t the duty of the Commissioner of Labor
Statistics, ninety days after the act was passed
10 publish III the Chinese language.a notice TO all
Chinese persons III the State, commanding the m
10 appear at ms Office and apply for the ''certi-
fieate of residence" provided for in the act.
Ihls certificate OF residence "shali be printed
on parchment, leaving blank space in the ecu
ter OF The first pl Sc OF sufficient size, on which
snalt be printed or pasted Il weli-taken photo
graph OF applicant. including all facial marks or
other features, TO aid in ready identification. the
printing surrounding the photograph shall con
tain the name, dae OF birth, place of birth, and
country and citizen shin; date OF departure ircm
such country, date OF arrival in the United States,
and port; age, sex, address; family name and
lrloe, complexion, color, height, weight aud
employer" etc. ana "any Chinese person found
In this State unproyided with certificate of res.
idence required, and bearing the official sigma
ture of the Commissioner of Labor Statistics
after the expiration of one year from the passage
OF his act. shall be deemed as unlawfully within
The limits OF this STATE aud subject 70 the punish
ment provided" (depOrIaJion).
THE COUNTY CLERK.
The interest that the County Clerk takes 10
this law Is found IN Section 10, which pre- .cribes
IL To he The duty OF every County Clerk TO record
with reasonable dispatch all certiic ties of resi-
dence issued 10 Chinese who NAV reside In tie
county, and to keep full record OF all sucn GER
tihcares for future reference and Identification,
with the photograph OF said Chinese person iu
corporated therein"
II Is authoriatiyely stated that the Labor
Commissioner is going to commence at once TO
enfOic this law. The magnitude of his work
may be Appropriated by simple reference TO the
iact that there are about $4,000 Chinese In San
francisco. This law, put in effect anywhere near
TO tile letter, Will mean land. Office business not
only for the Labor Commissioner and The County
CLERK, but ph otographers, who may feel Inclined
10 take advantage of Johns" forced position
and bleed him 10 any extent for taking his pho
tograpD.
In addition to that expense, John" must then
put up SO 10 tile Commissioner the fee Tor
registration.
HOW IL HE BE PAIDI
But from one eud 10 the other of this rare and
curious product OF the last Legislature there is
not Que word relative 10 the County Clerks COM
nensaliOn, OF how he shall equip Ills Office 10 do
this mighty volume of extra work. To do IL
with his present force lie deems VIII be out OF The
question, and yet 10 employ the necessary force
Is ecu lily SO, for there Is no law giving him any
such power, Or providing any means OF compeu-
satiou.
Now. what County Clerk Blaltner desires to
Know Is, what amount shall his office charge for
recording such certihca'es OF residence? Is The
charge Il fee? Is the County Clera compelled 10
do this work with his present force? II not,
help receive stated salary, or be obliged to take
SUCH as the office receives as charges? and other
Ike questions.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
The matter viii assume grave lmpOI lance IL
the Labor Commissioner puts his purpose, 10
obey The law, into effect hence the Importance
OF having these questions settled as soon pos
sible. Counselor burst reckonS that lie has his
hands iull, and II the law Itself is depended upon
for answers lie County Clerks dilemma will
grow no better fast
1t IS almost safe 10 presume that au attempt 10
enforce the law will result IN blockade the very
INST thing, by thr OWING 1t into court.
READY FOR BUSINESS.
In an interview yesterday with Labor Commits
sioner George ". ats tina. e nile man Informed
liminaIy stems required by The act for the cou-
tcmplated registration, aud that soon as he
shall have appointed the putty Commissioners
Tor the interior (sOne q; whom have been al
ready named but not commlssiQned) his office
VII! be In iull working order Tor the business.
All that remans TO he done after that Is for the
Chinese 10 come forward make their application
for registration, furnish two copies of their pho
logiaph, pay ne fees which the law imposes and
Try 10 look as 1OvAl as possible.
The application will show the name, age. sex,
| OCCUPATION, address, weight. height, complexion,
family name, Tribe, employers name and al.
dress. noticeable MAJ ks or deformties, place and
date OF birth, date Of emigration and arrival III
the United States port OF landing and certificate
| OF Identification by Two residents OF the State
Upon nlllng out lie DIank OF Which tile fore.