Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-21
THEY WON'T REGISTER.
CHINESE BENT oNNON-COMPLIaN
WITH THE NEW Law.
The Presidents of the Six Companies
Define Their Position In a Letter
Addressed to Collec-
tor Quinn.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2G.-The Call
tomorrow will publish letter from the
president OF the six Chinese companies.
to the collector of internal revenue.
John q. Quinn, sent in response to an
inquiry by the collector as to whether or
not it was true that the Six Companies
had advised Chinese laborers not to
comply with the provisions of the Chi
nese registration law passed at it's last
session of congress. The presidents of
the Six Companies say to the collector
that they have issued circulars advising
Chinese laborers that the law il uncon-
stitutional and cannot be enforced, and
that they have suggested to the laborers
that they do not comply with the law.
The presidents cay their circular was
based upon the advice OF their attorneys,
and they declare that the registration
law is UNCONSTITUTIONAL and in violation
OF treaty rights. In support Of the as
| eertion that the law is constitutional,
they say that it makes no distinction
j between Chinese who are aliens and
| Chinese who are citizens of the United
| States; that citizen of the Chinese
| race is entitled to the same rights and
| privileges as those of the Caucasian
| race; that no law can be passed which is
intended to apply to one class of people,
| and not to another.
| The letter states that all laws must be
equal and uniform; that congress has no
power to pass law inficting the PEN
atty of deportation; that the law ia
against the provisions of the constitution
relating to the deprivation OF life, lib
erty and property, and relating to the
infiiction OF cruel and unusual punish
ments.
| The letter further states that the Chi
| nese now residing here, who came here
under the existing laws, are entitled to
| remain.
| The letter then declares that the
| treaty between the United States and
China provides that Chinese visiting or
residing in the United States shall have
the same rights and privileges ae are en-
| joyed by citizens or subjects of most fa-
vored nations. 1t says that while con-
4 gress has right toabrogate or nullify
treaty, the supreme court of the United
| States has decreed that such abrogation
or nullifcation must be in express
terms, and not by implication. 1t de-
clares that congress has not SO abro-
gated or nullifed the treaty with China;
and it then quotes the provision of the
constitution that all treaties, as we'll as
the constitution and laws OF the United
States, shall be the supreme law of the
land.
The letter declares further that no
law is constitutional which imposes up
on Chinese subjects residing in the
United States, burdens, restrictions and
penalties which are not imposed upon
the subjects of other powers, residing in
the United States.
Beside giving the above reasons for
their belief that the restriction act is in
violation of the rights guaranteed both
by the treaty and the constitution, the
presidents OF the Six com panies cay that
the Chinese consider that the law is un-
warranted and unnecessary; that it is
an insult to the subjects of friendly
nation; that it ia in violation of every
principle of justice, equity and fair deal
ing between friendly powers, and that
it is an insult which is not inflicted
upon the citizens or subjects of any
other nation. Should any other nation
pass such law in reference to citizens
of the United States, the government
and people of the United States would
resent it.
The presidents also assert that if the
law is enforced it will subject every
Chinese merchant to blackmail of the
worst type; that Chinese merchant
residing in San Francisco who may de-
sire to travel to New York, may be
stopped at every hamlet and be arrested
on the charge of being laborer who has
not registered.
In closing the presidents refer to the
fact that Collector Quinn, in his recent
letter to them, said that the officers of
the Six companies might be liable to
the United States government for incit-
ing, Chinese to disobey the law Of the
United States. In response to this the
presidents say their attention has not
been called to any law which makes it
crime for them to advise their fellow
countrymen that have right to disre-
gard laws which are in violation Of the
constitution and treaty.
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